"America's Best Idea: The National Parks" Carol Hart

Carol Hart, Fayetteville, AR

America’s Best Idea: The National Parks, 2026

Acrylic and collage

24 x 24”

In thinking about the phrase "Our Common Ground" my thoughts kept returning to our national parks. As an artist married to a geologist and raising two sons, our vacations often took us to one of the national parks. Here is where our sons learned to identify every rock and formation, and the night constellations not visible from our sky at home. From this love of the outdoors, both sons chose careers of working outside with one son starting his own business designing and building treehouses and the other managing a thriving nursery in NWA. It's these valuable lessons of respect and care for the land reminding us that the American National Parks are not just for the rich or powerful, but for everyone.