For the Love of Parks

National park lands have been tended by people for thousands of years, beginning with the Indigenous peoples who called these places home, until their forceful removal by American expansionism. In 1872, with the creation of Yellowstone National Park – and soon after, the hiring of Harry Yount, considered the first park ranger – the tradition of land stewardship was taken up again in a new form.

Today, while the infrastructure, pressures, and expectations of the national park system have changed, the individuals who work within it remain guided by a deep commitment to conservation, and a sense of duty to keep these spaces accessible and beautiful.

For the Love of Parks is a companion to NPS-87, shifting from archival footage to present-day voices of those who work for America’s public lands. Through anonymous interviews with current and former park employees, the film offers a collective reflection on purpose, belonging, and the personal paths that led them to a life in service to the outdoors.

Rather than presenting facts or profiles, this film is a quiet thank you and tribute to those who continue to make personal sacrifices to care for these shared spaces.

Project currently in production.