Dear Defender of Public Lands,

Tomorrow, from 6pm to 7:30pm mountain daylight time, you can provide your direct feedback to Rocky Mountain National Park’s management on their plan for permanent restriction on access to the Park. It’s a ‘virtual’ event. To participate, you have to register by clicking on the link below.

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3810578962321936142

We don’t know what the format of the meeting is. But the Park says it’s your chance to provide ‘input’ to its plans. This is our best chance yet to let the Superintendent know that she’s out of touch with the American public and to emphasize that public lands belong to the people.

The more of us that show up, the better. But if you can’t make Thursday’s webinar, the Park is hosting a second event on Tuesday, May 25th, from 2pm to 3:30 pm mountain daylight time. The link for the second public meeting is below.

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2324908955266371342

Thanks to your efforts—sharing on social media and spreading the word with friends and family—our petition is closing in on 1,500 signatures. It’s starting to get some state and national media attention too, which means the numbers could explode--especially as tens of thousands of people begin visiting the Park this summer and experience getting turned away. Keep sharing it.

Unfortunately, we’re not getting much help yet from our elected officials. The Mayor of Estes Park and the Board of Trustees declined to put forward a resolution asking for the Park to halt this year’s system. Most of them expressed support for the Park’s position.  And although we’ve asked Congressman Joe Neguse to help move forward our Freedom of Information Act Request , we haven’t received a response.

But our goal now is to make sure this the last time the Park unfairly and undemocratically imposes unnecessary restrictions. Show up to the virtual NEPA meeting and make your voice heard.

If our elected officials aren’t going to lead on this, people like you will have to. Don’t give up the fight. Future generations of Park users will thank you for defending their access to public lands.

Thanks,

Dan

PS We’ll send out one more update to you next week after the NEPA meetings. By then, we hope to have a Facebook group set up for you to keep in touch with this issue if you want. We are also organizing a small rally in Bond Park in Estes Park on Memorial Day.

Be encouraged by the fact that many other people share your concern. The more people hear about what the Superintendent is trying to do, the more they oppose it. Details on Memorial Day activities to follow next week.

Until then, please enjoy this picture of Longs Peak and the Front Range, taken from the trail to Kruger Rock in Hermit Park last year. It’s a reminder of what we’re fighting for. Don’t give up.