Chiricahua is the nation’s newest national park – what does that mean?

Chiricahua, a 12,000-acre area in southeastern Arizona, has been redesignated as the United States’ 64th national park. Originally established as a national monument in April 1924, its purpose was to protect its unique rhyolite hoodoos—tall, spire-like rock formations—and diverse wildlife. A national park is the highest designation within the National Park Service (NPS) system, which manages 433 properties across the country. This redesignation was achieved through an act of Congress signed by President Donald Trump. Chiricahua joins three other national parks in Arizona: the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Saguaro. The change is primarily symbolic, as the physical site remains largely unchanged, but it carries significant branding implications for tourism and local communities.

The National Park Service (NPS) oversees 433 properties, known as units, with 19 different designations such as national battlefields, national lakeshores, or national scenic trails. Only 64 of these units are officially titled national parks. Most designations require an act of Congress, except for national monuments, which can be created directly by the president under the Antiquities Act of 1906. For example, Bears Ears National Monument in Utah was created by President Barack Obama in December 2016 but later reduced in size by President Donald Trump in 2017 and expanded again by President Joe Biden in 2021. The NPS defines a national park as an area containing a variety of resources and encompassing large land or water areas to ensure adequate protection.

Redesignating a property as a national park does not typically result in additional funding, resources, or protections for the site. Instead, the change is often driven by political or economic motives, such as attracting more tourists and increasing tourism revenue. For instance, the redesignation of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial to Gateway Arch National Park in 2018 was part of a local campaign to renovate the visitor center and revitalize the park grounds. However, the law that formalized the change included no extra funding or protections. Similarly, Chiricahua’s redesignation is expected to boost its appeal to visitors through improved marketing, such as updated signs, brochures, and merchandise, rather than enhancing its physical management.

The redesignation of Chiricahua has faced opposition, particularly from those concerned about potential overcrowding and increased tourism. Critics argue that the park’s limited infrastructure of 12,000 acres may struggle to accommodate a surge in visitors, which could diminish the personal and isolated experience that current visitors value. Similar concerns were raised when other sites, like the Gateway Arch National Park, were redesignated. While the national park label may attract more visitors, it does not guarantee additional federal funding or enhanced protections for the landscape. The NPS acknowledges that the term national park is often associated with expectations of wildlife viewing, geologic features, and outdoor recreation opportunities, which Chiricahua already provides.

Several other National Park Service sites are currently undergoing efforts to be redesignated as national parks. These include the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin, and Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C. These redesignation efforts are typically initiated by local communities or organizations and require significant time and political support. For example, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore became Indiana Dunes National Park in 2019, and White Sands National Monument in New Mexico was redesignated as White Sands National Park the same year. The outcome of these efforts depends on congressional approval and bipartisan support.