Many Americans use public lands for recreation and business, but don’t understand where they came from or why they are the birthright of every citizen.

Join Walt Dabney—former National Park Service Superintendent and Texas State Parks Director—for an eye-opening talk on how America’s public lands came to be, why most are in the West, the economic value of these lands, and what we all stand to lose if they are transferred out of our common ownership.

Registration recommended to join us in person. To watch online (no registration needed), visit https://vimeo.com/event/5723401. The recording will be available to watch later on The Community Library’s Event Archive.

Walt Dabney is a retired park professional with a 43-year career spanning both the National Park Service (NPS) and Texas Parks and Wildlife. A Texas A&M graduate, he began as a ranger-naturalist in Yellowstone and went on to serve in key leadership roles across iconic parks including Yosemite, Grand Teton, Everglades, Mount Rainier, and as Chief Ranger of the NPS in Washington, D.C. He later led the Southeast Utah Group of parks and served as Director of Texas State Parks. Known for his expertise in law enforcement, search and rescue, fire management, and public land policy, Dabney now teaches at leadership institutes and universities and frequently speaks on the history of America’s public land.