As I follow the news surrounding the National Parks of the U.S., I can't help but be taken aback by the absurdity of what is expected of the National Parks Service with the financial resources they are provided with. We have a Department that was constructed to preserve and maintain these natural wonders but is time and time again not given the necessary resources to do so.

High volume foot traffic has also been a growing issue. Overpopulation is continuously damaging parks. Destructive tourism is a topic that has gained more traction over recent years. Guests are causing severe damage by climbing natural formations or exploring restricted areas to take a photo and using social media to share unmarked locations in parks that are never intended to be accessed by the public. This behavior not only increases the chances of guests getting injured, but feeds into a vicious cycle of the growing cost of repairs and fewer funds to address them.

These two games present our parks system's current condition through the eyes of the employees that work there. The events that occur are inspired by actual problems and repairs reported by different parks across the country. The locations of each trail in the games are based on the actual trail names of a local bike trail system that is part of the Florida Trail. If we don't adjust and make necessary changes our parks need, each year, we will continue to damage and lose more of these beautiful natural landscapes.