National Park and Public Land Designations

National Park Definition

The NPS, as part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is responsible for the protection, preservation, and administration of areas designated as a national park. There are many public land designations established to protect natural wonders, forests, historical settings, wildlife refuges, and so on. But national parks are the crown jewels and “… tend to be large swaths of land that protect a variety of resources, … can only be created by Congress … are managed by the National Park Service … and strive to keep landscapes unimpaired for future generations while offering recreation opportunities.”