If managing Yellowstone National Park, careful consideration of any plans to build additional roads to increase access to the park would be necessary. We should define what a national park and wilderness are, examine the reasons for building roads and why not build roads, and develop a plan for Yellowstone that would allow present and future generations to enjoy a great treasure. national. must understand the concept of national park and wilderness. Yellowstone became the first national park. President Ulysses S. Grant designated Yellowstone a national park in 1872. The law establishing Yellowstone as the first national park stated that the area would be preserved "for the benefit and enjoyment of the people." All “timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities or wonders” would be preserved “in their natural state” (McNamara, 2014). The natural state of the park is a wilderness area. Although wilderness is often thought of as a wild or untamed area, people have had varying perspectives on wilderness throughout history. Some of these historical perspectives on wilderness in the United States are: 1 “The Puritan model encouraged an aggressive and even antagonistic attitude toward wilderness. Wild nature must be tamed” (Dejardins, page 154). The wilderness was, as a feared area, yet a space where one could escape oppression. 2. “The Lockean model considers wilderness as real estate, a commodity to be owned and used” (DesJardins, page 154). a symbol of innocence and purity” (DesJardins, page 155). Denial of additional roads 3 Although the outlook for the wilderness has changed and will continue to change, Yellowstone was created for the purpose...... middle of paper ..... ...what it is in are being carried out to enrich the lives of each of us” (“Greenpeace USA”, 2014). Taking a close look at the rationale for national parks, the definition of wilderness, a critique of why or not to build roads in a national park, a comparison of preservation, cost analysis, and conservative approaches of the environment, I believe that the best approach is preservation. This preservation approach would not eliminate access to the park but would seek to control public access to protect the natural environment. The end result would allow today's generation to enjoy Yellowstone Park and ensure that future generations can do so as well. Speaking of wilderness, Robert Nash perhaps said it best when he said, “Its preservation is not only one of the best ideas American culture has ever had; maybe it's better than we ever imagined” (Nash, 2001).