Statement from Trust for Public Land President and CEO Carrie Besnette Hauser on the 2024 Election Results 

Denver, CO – Trust for Public Land [TPL] President and CEO Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser issued the following statement:  

“As this election season draws to a close, voters across the nation, undeterred by the divides of our time, cast their ballots in favor of our parks, public lands, and access to nature for all Americans. I am thrilled to share that all 23 of the ballot measures championed by TPL in this election cycle have passed, generating over $16 billion in voter-approved public funding for parks, climate resilience projects, water quality, and wildlife and land conservation. 

With all the votes tallied, the last remaining measure — the proposal to increase funding for the McHenry County Conservation District in Illinois — was officially declared victorious overnight. Passing by just 857 votes out of over 154,000 cast, this measure will protect drinking water sources, improve the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams, provide park access for people with disabilities, safeguard wildlife habitats, preserve forests, plant trees, and enhance and maintain existing conservation areas. 

These results are a testament to the unifying power of parks and public lands. In blue cities, red counties, and purple states, Americans have shown a powerful commitment to protecting nature and creating parks. Parks are where we step outside, connect with family and neighbors, and recharge—spaces that bring hope and possibility in the midst of uncertainty. 

For many years, Trust for Public Land has led, advised, and partnered with communities and elected officials across the country, helping pass 681 ballot measures in 567 jurisdictions, generating over $110 billion in public funding for parks, open spaces, and clean water. These wins build on TPL’s legacy of working with leaders and policymakers from every political background to protect nature and support vibrant communities, ensuring future generations inherit safer, healthier, thriving communities.  

Yet we cannot ignore the reality that parks and green spaces in communities across the U.S. remain underfunded. Today, 100 million people in this country lack access to a high-quality, close-to-home outdoor space, while funding for parks lags far behind other infrastructure priorities. State and local spending on roads alone surpasses in a single year what we’ve achieved for parks over three decades. 

TPL will continue to advocate for meaningful, lasting solutions to protect our lands and waters, expand outdoor access, and strengthen our economy, such as the Outdoors for All Act. This act would codify and improve the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant program, a nationally competitive federal grant program, that provides funding for parks in economically disadvantaged communities — from rural to urban — with little to no access to quality outdoor spaces. 

If the 2024 election proved one thing, it is that communities across America support investments in their local parks and the protection of their public lands—showing how measures like the Outdoors for All Act are critical. We look forward to working with the Senate and House to pass the Outdoor for All Act in the lame duck session. We call on our supporters to contact their members of Congress and tell them to pass Outdoors for All before the session ends.

This election has reaffirmed that our shared vision for public lands and climate resilience transcends politics. We at TPL are honored to carry this work forward, uniting our country around the goal of connecting everyone to the joys and benefits of the outdoors.” 

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About Trust for Public Land   

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,364 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, and raised $110 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.4 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org