While members of Congress on a somewhat regular basis make recommendations for areas that should be added to the National Park System, sometimes those suggestions are designed to boost the economies of their home districts more so than to add to the depth and breadth of the system.

One directive contained in the president's America's Great Outdoors report could help broaden not just the diversity of the system, but also add to other public lands such as national forests, wildlife refuges, and wild and scenic rivers. On page 64 of the report the administration discusses the need to identify potential additions to the the public's recreational domain.

Recommendation 8.5 Identify potential areas for congressional designation that have strong local support.

New land designations are important for protecting outstanding lands and waters, cultural resources, historic sites, and recreation areas and for creating wildlife corridors and restoring intact landscapes. Such designations may only be accomplished by Congress, and involve input from federal agencies. In considering proposals for new wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and national conservation system lands, USDA and DOI should work with Congress to ensure that there is meaningful local, regional, and national input before any congressional designation.

Action Item 8.5a: Work with Congress to consider new congressional designations of or additions to wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, national parks, national wildlife refuges, and national conservation system lands. Priority for federal support should be given to sites where strong local, regional and national support exists.

Action Item 8.5b: The NPS will identify key natural areas and cultural themes underrepresented in the National Park System to guide congressional designation of sites that may deserve such recognition and protection. Recommendations for protecting individual sites would still be made through existing procedures that take into account the criteria enumerated in law.

On public lands and elsewhere in regions and communities, historic preservation can have benefits beyond protecting resources. It can serve as a catalyst to reinvigorate communities and economies while instilling pride in local history and traditions. It can add an important dimension to understanding and experiencing national parks and other special outdoor places. Historic preservation and cultural resources protection can attract visitors who support local businesses, increase job opportunities, revitalize urban or rural communities, and encourage reuse of historic buildings. To affirm and reinforce the connection between the American people and America’s great outdoors in all its richness and diversity, build on the linkages between our natural and our cultural heritage.