National Parks Week arrives amid growing concern over the future of funding and land use plans, following deep cuts, staff reductions and unprecedented incursions into public lands. From the recent removal of educational markers in the Carolinas to bulldozers in Big Bend, the changes are prompting a “day of action” on Aug. 25, in which the National Parks Conservation Association asks the public to sign a petition urging President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to protect parks and their employees. We talk with two park experts who advocate for protecting nature from ourselves.

Guests:
Mark Woods, columnist, The Florida Times-Union, author, Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Park
Vanessa Trujillo, senior conservation program manager, National Parks Conservation Association

Flow state

From the Northbank and Southbank Riverwalks to Riverfront Plaza and the new RiversEdge park, the city has a lot of waterfront parkland. We explore how the newly formed Jax Riverfront Alliance plans to create a unifying vision for all that real estate, and why the city chose a public/private model to accomplish that goal. We also ask the interim director what groundwork she’s laying for a permanent hire, and what foundation is already in place to build on.

Guest: Linzee Ott, interim director, Jax Riverfront Alliance 

National Parks Week arrives amid growing concern over the future of funding and land use plans, following deep cuts, staff reductions and unprecedented&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article316857882.html">incursions</a>&nbsp;into public lands. From the recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article316857882.html">removal</a>&nbsp;of educational markers in the Carolinas to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/big-bend-national-park-border-wall-fight/">bulldozers in Big Bend</a>, the changes are prompting a &ldquo;day of action&rdquo; on Aug. 25, in which the National Parks Conservation Association asks the public to sign a&nbsp;<a href="https://act.npca.org/page/101515/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=ActionCenter&amp;supporter.appealCode=ALA2608D4ADW&amp;_gl=1*8gb8wd*_up*MQ..*_ga*NTY5MTU0NTM5LjE3ODczMzQzNTY.*_ga_Q34526RVM3*czE3ODczMzQzNTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODczMzQzNzAkajQ1JGwwJGgw">petition</a>&nbsp;urging President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to protect parks and their employees. We talk with two park experts who advocate for protecting nature from ourselves.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Mark Woods, columnist,&nbsp;The Florida Times-Union, author,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lassoing-Sun-Americas-National-Parks/dp/1250105897">Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America&rsquo;s National Park</a></li>
<li>Vanessa Trujillo, senior conservation program manager, National Parks Conservation Association</li>
</ul>
Flow state
From the Northbank and Southbank Riverwalks to Riverfront Plaza and the new RiversEdge park, the city has a&nbsp;lot&nbsp;of waterfront parkland. We explore how the newly formed Jax Riverfront Alliance plans to create a unifying vision for all that real estate, and why the city chose a public/private model to accomplish that goal. We also ask the interim director what groundwork she&rsquo;s laying for a permanent hire, and what foundation is already in place to build on.
Guest:&nbsp;Linzee Ott, interim director,&nbsp;<a href="https://jaxriverfrontalliance.org/">Jax Riverfront Alliance&nbsp;</a>

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 Subscribe free and make WJCT News Now part of your daily routine.

Stay connected to Jacksonville and Northeast Florida with WJCT News Now &mdash; your free, daily news podcast from WJCT Public Media. Every morning, anchor Steven Ponson breaks down the headlines you need to start your day informed. Then go deeper with highlights from First Coast Connect &mdash; the show where local newsmakers, civic leaders, artists, and community voices come together to talk through what's happening in your backyard.
&nbsp;Subscribe free and make WJCT News Now part of your daily routine.