America's Next Great National Park

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Thursday February 06, 2014 · 1:15 PM PST

2014/02/06 · 13:15

PETITION TO MAKE THE COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT THE NATION'S 60TH NATIONAL PARK:

The Colorado National Monument is one of few remaining special places left in the United States to fully qualify for national park status but the effort to make it a national park isn't new.
Back in 1905 a young activist and road builder from California, undoubtedly familiar with Yosemite National Park, journeyed east to the great painted deserts and beautiful but at times treacherous mountains of California, Nevada and Utah then on through the vast and awe inspiring canyon lands of Utah. All memorable places to be sure, still Otto pressed on until he finally reached Western Colorado. Here the magical canyons and formations of the Colorado National Monument, literally stopped the wanderer in his tracks. John Otto lay down his small pack of belongings, set up a tent and a year later, in 1906 wrote , "I came here last year and found these canyons, and they feel like the heart of the world to me. I'm going to stay and build trails and promote this place, because it should be a national park."
President Taft declared it a national monument in 1911 but Otto spent the rest of his life working to make it a national park. 2014 could be the year it finally happens. Please sign our petition and make the Colorado National Monument America's 60th national park.

http://www.gopetition.com/...

Poll

28 votes Show Results

If the Colorado National Monument is re-designated as a national park what should it be called?

28 votes Vote Now!

If the Colorado National Monument is re-designated as a national park what should it be called?

Colorado National Park

4 votes

Colorado Canyons National Park

16 votes

Hanging Canyons National Park

4 votes

Rimrock Canyons National Park

4 votes

Colorado Independence National Park

0 votes

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