My version of the SP cross country course

Preserve Our Parks

View of Corrigan Drive in South Park

In 2008, a landmark was reached in terms of the distribution of the population. For the first time, the population of the world was split evenly between urban and rural regions. By 2050, it is estimated that 70 percent of the world population will be residing in urban areas. (Human Population 1) In a world that is growing increasingly more urbanized and industrialized, it is important to keep environmental concerns in mind. As the cities continue to grow, rural areas are beginning to disappear, along with many of the parks located within them. I grew up in a town named after a park and enjoyed all of the benefits of having a large park in my hometown. My experiences in the various parts of the park of South Park have helped me to realize the importance of preserving parks, including national parks. We must maintain these parks in order to save animals, plants, and the human experience.

An important reason that national parks need to be preserved is to maintain the habitats of various species of animals. Throughout my many voyages through my own park, I have noticed various animals. I can remember sunny days where I would walk through the park on the wooded path and suddenly hear the sound of a family of deer scampering off to my left, or a groundhog borrowing into the leaves on my right, or just the birds chirping overhead. Although these are relatively commonly seen animals, it is still evident that the park is their central living location. If the park were to be taken over by housing developments, where would these animals go? The main problem would certainly be the deer. There is already an over abundance of deer in Allegheny County, and if the parks, in which the deer currently reside, were to be turned into something else, the deer would become much more of a hazard, especially to drivers. Many of the species of animals that reside in the park would either migrate away, decrease in population, or both. This scenario can be thought of on a larger scale in terms of a national park. National parks can house incredible numbers of animals. In fact, “Yellowstone National Park has the largest concentration of wildlife in the lower 48 states” (Nature and Wildlife 1). As urban lands continue to increase, it is imperative to keep at least these habitats as places for the animals to remain in. If people do not preserve the national parks, there will surely be a decrease in the population and variety of species of animals in the United States and around the world, leading to the unfortunate extinction of some animals. In order to save these animals, the national parks and parks around the world must be preserved.

The other component of parks, the plants, is also very important and provides a vital reason for preserving parks. As I stroll through the parks of my hometown, I am shaded by giant trees and surrounded by bushes, ferns, and flowers of all types. It is truly a beautiful sight to see, and it is so nice to be able to breathe in the fresh air provided by the plants. I once took a beach towel and laid it on a grassy hill in the sun and was able to sleep for hours because of the fresh air and the peacefulness of the atmosphere around me. The field and woods around me seemed huge that day. But while the parks of South Park encompass a large amount of land in my mind, they are nowhere near the size of the national parks. The amount of plant life they contain is also much greater. From national parks such as Crater Lake to even Death Valley, plant species and populations are abundant. In order to maintain this abundance, we must also maintain our national parks. The plants and landscape in general serve as food and shelter for the animals that live in the national parks. If the plants were to die out because of the destroying of a park, the animals would die out too. Plants are also used as food and for medicinal reasons by humans. While the plants located in the actual national parks may not directly be used for these purposes by humans, other plants of those species from other locations are indeed used, so it is imperative that humans assure that these plants do not become extinct. Plants also help to keep our air clean. If parks were transformed into something else, not only would it be likely that the new development would be polluting the air, but there would also be a lack of plants to clean it back up. I would be devastated if one day I came home and saw all the trees and plants in my park destroyed. Because plant life is so important, people must focus on preserving national parks in order to save the plants within them.

Not only are parks a habitat for plants and animals, they are also an environment for humans. I use my park for many purposes, including running, walking, and just going on adventures with friends. Hanging out in the park with friends or family is always a fun and relaxing activity, with the added benefit of being outside and getting to do something for free. I have spent countless summer days just wandering the park. I cannot imagine not having the park available to me. This realization has further taught me how important it is to preserve the parks. In my community, the park inspires a healthy lifestyle and social interaction. Parks also give people a further appreciation for nature. Without parks, all of these elements would be taken away. People gain much from the national parks as well. They provide a source of entertainment and a travel destination for many. The national parks also give people who live in urbanized areas the chance to fully experience nature. They also serve as educational tools, for one of the best ways to learn about nature and the landscape of the country is to see it for oneself. All of these experiences would be hard to replace if the national parks were not preserved. Therefore, it is essential to preserve parks so that people are able to experience them.

When I am at home, I see parks all around me every day. No matter where I am going, I must always pass through one. I have spent a lot of time in these parks, and my time spent there has helped me to realize how important they are. Not only is it important to save parks like the ones in my hometown, but it is essential to save national parks around the world. Parks are the home of countless animals and plants, and also provide experiences for people that cannot be found anywhere else. From my experiences in my hometown, I now am a strong supporter of preserving parks.

Works Cited:

"Human Population: Urbanization - Population Reference Bureau." Home - Population Reference Bureau. Web. 20 Apr. 2010. .

“Yellowstone National Park Wildlife / Animals - ALLYellowstonePark.com." ALL Yellowstone National Park Lodging, Vacations, Old Faithful - ALLYellowstonePark.com. Web. 20 Apr. 2010. .

Picture found at: www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc42046.php