Op-Ed |Hispanic Heritage Month And The National Parks

Editor's note: In the following column, Laura Torres, the Los Angeles program manager for National Parks Conservation Association, looks at the need for more National Park System sites that preseve and interpret Hispanic culture and history.

Growing up in the urban gray of Los Angeles, I felt disconnected from nature and my own Latino heritage as a part of American history, even though the opportunity for me to explore both was right outside my doorstep. I would ride my bike in the concrete-covered LA River, or walk along the train tracks with friends. When I did get to be in green spaces, it was limited to a few hours of cross-country practice or time at a local park, and I always craved the balanced feeling nature gave me. In a city where Latinos are the majority, my early classroom lessons rarely discussed our role in making this country what it is today. It was through lessons about César Chávez and his contributions to social justice and labor rights that I began to understand my responsibility to advocate for Latino rights – and through my current work that I began to focus on inclusion of our heritage within the National Park System. 

With Hispanic Heritage Month now behind us and as the National Park Service Centennial year comes to a close, the time for action is now. From the earliest Spanish explorers to contemporary leaders in civics, the arts and industry, our heritage is an essential part of the American story. Yet, only a few sites in the National Park System currently preserve and interpret such history and culture. Fortunately, there has been some progress in recognizing and protecting these important sites.

Within the Obama Administration and in the halls of Congress, advancements have been made and other opportunities exist to help the Park Service continue to reflect our country’s diverse and shared heritage. In the Central Valley, President Obama designated the César E. Chávez National Monument in Keene, California in 2012 – the first national park site to honor a contemporary Latino. And in 2013, the National Park Service released its theme study, focused on the contributions of Latinos to our national heritage and culture. The study identified places around the country that deserve preservation and helped foster new opportunities to tell the story of Latinos in America. Now, Congress can take the next step by passing the César Chávez National Historical Park Act, introduced earlier this year. This legislation would preserve historically-significant sites related to Latino and Filipino farm workers not included in the Keene monument. 

Further south, in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area, the Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act, introduced in Congress earlier this year, would expand Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include a 193,000-acre corridor with some of the region’s last wild natural spaces. Among the open spaces and waterways are also sites that are historically significant to Latinos. This includes El Pueblo de Los Angeles, preserved as a state historic monument and recognized as the birthplace of the city where the Park Service already operates a district office.

Passing the César Chávez and Rim of The Valley legislation could expand outreach, education and engagement programs that reach urban, underserved and ethnic communities, including Latinos and others not traditionally connected to our national parks. The Rim of the Valley proposal would also foster new recreational opportunities, preserve critical habitat for threatened species, and build partnerships with local governments and schools to provide opportunities for youth to get outdoors.

It is true that urban youth flock to areas that allow them to take a break from the concrete jungle and immerse themselves in a world of green space and beauty. I see this appreciation for nature firsthand through my work with National Parks Conservation Association’s Los Angeles office as well as volunteering with community gardens programs, and organizations like Latinos Outdoors. It is our collective responsibility to help reshape the narrative of who enjoys the outdoors.

The Latino experience is the American experience. It is important for everyone, particularly Latino youth, to see our culture and heritage reflected in something so American like the National Park System. Current opportunities for Congress to take action will pay dividends for generations, connecting youth with the history, bravery in action and commitment to service of Latinos before them. The National Park Theme Study on Latinos shows us again what we already know: we all deserve to feel at home in our national parks and see a reflection of ourselves in these special places, which belong to all of us.

Laura Torres is the Los Angeles Program Manager for National Parks Conservation Association