On Earth Day, April 22, the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA) presents The History of Public Lands with Walt Dabney at 6pm at A Church in Salida. Dabney is the former National Park Service Superintendent and Texas Parks and Wildlife Director. Many use public lands for recreation and business, but don’t know how those lands came to be in the public domain. Dabney will present the origin story of public lands, how they fit into federal and state governments, why most public lands are in the West, and the economic value. The event also serves as GARNA’s Annual Member Celebration and the evening will kick off with a short presentation of successes from the past year. Tickets are free and light refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is requested as space is limited. Visit GARNA.org or call 719-539-5106. About Walt Dabney: Walt Dabney graduated from Texas A&M (TAMU) in 1969 with a degree in Recreation and Park Management. He began his career with the National Park Service the summer of 1969 as a student trainee (ranger-Naturalist) at Old Faithful District of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.  He worked in numerous other National Parks, including time in Alaska and the Everglades and directly supervised the NPS Branch of Fire and Aviation Management at the National Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. He was selected to become the National Park Service Chief Ranger stationed in Washington D.C. and held that position for 5 1/2 years. Dabney began his permanent career with Texas Parks and Wildlife as the Director of State Parks in 1999 after having spent 30 years with the National Park Service. He helped bring significant organizational changes to the agency. After 43 years of park work, he retired in 2010. Dabney now lives in Buena Vista. Photo: Walt Dabney in Hovenweep National Monument, UT