May 14, 2013 Dear Secretary Jewell, Congratulations on becoming our nations 51st Secretary of the Interior.

We look forward to working with you as you address the myriad issues under the departments jurisdiction. As organizations dedicated to ensuring access to parks, green space and outdoor recreation, and wildlife protection, we are writing to request a meeting to discuss the role of the Department of Interior in conserving these resources in the communities where most Americans live. We want to highlight for you the important role of the Department of the Interior in this endeavor and the opportunity to make this a signature issue. We believe that with your leadership the Department of Interior can become the federal champion for community parks and green space that meet not only recreational needs but also a host of other social, public health, economic, educational, and conservation needs. Interior can play a leadership role in bringing nature back to cities and championing this new and much-needed urban conservation ethicall under the banner of President Obamas Americas Great Outdoors. As you know, most Americans now live and work in metropolitan areas and are seeking close-tohome nature and recreational opportunities. However, many cities are struggling to address basic infrastructure, while trying to meet new stormwater regulations and grappling with more severe weather and climate change. Our children are increasingly less connected to the outdoors and face health issues never before experienced this early in life. Additionally, despite many great efforts in more rural areas, our nations wildlife is in trouble and in need of a greater restoration plan that includes our urban and suburban regions. It is clear that our cities and surrounding areas need help in order to sustain both our people and our wildlife. It has taken our country over two hundred years to create the cities and suburbs we have today. Moving forward and addressing this infrastructure backlog and challenges like climate change and stormwater pollution will require a new approach to rebuilding our citiesa new ethic that weaves the built and natural environments into a more symbiotic system. This approach must better integrate green infrastructurethe parks, trails, streams, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, forests, and greenspaceswith the buildings, homes, roads, transportation and sewage systems that now need major upgrades. Simultaneously, it requires multiple stakeholders across sectors working in partnership. The tools for rehabilitating 21st century communities are numerous. They include Revitalizing urban parks and streams that provide places for children and adults alike to play and connect with the great outdoors, and make communities safer Creating greener playgrounds, properties and streets to conserve water and manage stormwater Planting more trees and restoring urban forests that provide critical habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife while addressing urban heat islands Landscaping for wildlife where people live, work, learn, play and worship Restoring wetlands that contain storm surge and provide critical wildlife habitat Building riverwalks that connect residents to trails and close-to-home nature and parks and help ameliorate flood damage Investments in community parks and greenspaces help grow local economies by creating jobs, increasing property values, and attracting the kinds of businesses, workforces, and private capital that will make metropolitan areas economically competitive in todays global economy. With the right approach, they can create layered benefits that address some of our cities most challenging issues.

Fortunately, there are programs and efforts within the Department of the Interior already focused on these types of projects but not always in a systematic and sustained way. We believe that with your guidance, the department can build on these efforts and play a national leadership role in coalescing and prioritizing the efforts of all DOI Bureaus to work in partnership with multiple sectorsprivate sector, nonprofits, city and regional park and recreation, transportation and planning agencies, and local elected officials. Given the departments tremendous resources and the wealth of scientific, research and outreach expertiseas well as the clear need for close-to-home nature and reconnecting youth to the outdoorsour organizations strongly urge you to turn it into the federal leader and champion for community parks and greenspace. We look forward to discussing this with you in more detail at your convenience. Sincerely,

Executive Director City Parks Alliance

President and CEO The Conservation Fund

President and CEO National Recreation and Park Association

Executive Vice President and North America Managing Director The Nature Conservancy

CEO National Wildlife Federation

President and CEO Trust for Public Land

Executive Director Sierra Club

President U.S. Water Alliance