Since it was given the trust of the national park system, this administration has committed itself to partnerships of conservation, preservation and recreation. Today we celebrate the keeping and continuance of that trust by observing Founder's Day. It began eighty-eight years ago, when President Woodrow Wilson signed a law creating the National Park Service. His signature represented the establishment of a formal partnership between the citizenry and the federal government, the initiation of the trust between them.

The law recognized an implicit partnership between preservation and recreation. It declared that the "fundamental purpose" of the park system was to "Conserve the scenery and the national and historical objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such matter and by such means as to leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

Stephen Mather, the first director of the National Park Service, embodied the possibilities of partnerships for conversation. , Mr. Mather had been a successful businessman before he became the leader of the park service at the behest of Mr. Wilson. His advocacy of preservation and recreation led to financial support from western railroads and supportive articles in popular magazines.

Subsequent stewards of the park system have honored that trust. It has taken new forms as the park system has been given new commitments. There are now many different types of parks, ranging from national historic sites to national recreation areas, from national lakeshores to national seashores. There's a quiet reverence at war memorials and excited activity in national recreation areas; there's a studious curiosity at historic sites and breathless wonder in national parks. Each type of park represents a different panorama of partnerships, but the same picture of trust.

The park service has 20,000 employees, each of whom honors that partnership between preservation and recreation at every wild place and historical marker. Fran Mainella has done an outstanding job directing those professionals.

Their continued commitment can be seen here. Acadia National Park was established on another series of partnerships. In 1901, residents of the park, led by Harvard president Charles Eliot, formed a public land trust. As its director, the group appointed George Dorr, an heir to a family and fortune of industry. Mr. Dorr was industrious as well, devoting many decades, and many personal dollars, to preserving the area. In 1919, Acadia became the first national park east of the Rockies. Since then, countless visitors have enjoyed the parks rushing seas and soaring cliffs.

This park is tangible proof of the commitment President Bush made to preserving and improving our national park system. No administration has invested more in our national parks. Since 2000, the National Park Service's budget has grown by 20 percent, one of the greatest increases for a non-defense agency. The Park Services' $1.8 billion operating budget for 2005 represents spending of more funds per employee, per acre, and per visitor than ever before.

The parks have been too long without that stewardship. When President came into office almost four years ago, the infrastructure problem was so bad that it would that it would have daunted even Tim Allen during his Home Improvement days. Trails were crumbling, water systems were leaking and buildings were decaying. The degree of decay was not known since no systematic survey had been done.

President Bush changed that. Through his Parks Legacy Project, the president committed to investing nearly $5 billion on park infrastructure. At his direction, the National Park Service completed a thorough survey of the maintenance needs of the national parks. Then sleeves were rolled up, hands were spat on (not in my case) and repairs began. Across the nation, more than 1,400 infrastructure projects are either underway, or have been completed in the national parks. The evidence can be seen right here.

Some $5 million in legacy project funds were sent here. The money is being used to fix water and electrical lines, to upgrade campsites at the Seawall Campground and to cleanup restrooms. When the improvements are complete, 220 campsites will have been upgraded, as will have four buildings and several roads.

Citizens continue to take up the challenge of preserving and improving the park system. By partnering with the park system, they continue to perpetuate the trust the National Park Service took up eighty-eight years ago. More than 121,000 Americans volunteer in the national parks. They contribute more than 4.5 million hours of service. 100 different groups, including the Bowhunting Preservation Alliance and LL Bean, became charter partners in The Take Pride in America program. Forty-five state governors are active participants of its Council of Governors.

The park service was established on a partnership between preservation and recreation. In the decades since the service was founded, citizen-stewards have perpetuated that partnership, they have honored its implicit trust. We're committed to keeping that promise. We're dedicated to making our parks even better. I hope you will join us as partners.