A Letter From Senator Martin Heinrich - Elevating White Sands National Park

September 30, 2024

Dear Friend,

Nearly five years ago, I was proud to join with local community leaders in Otero County and southern New Mexico to champion the successful legislation that elevated the status of White Sands to become one of our newest National Parks.

Securing the prestigious National Park designation of this remarkable natural wonder was an enormous victory for New Mexico. And now it’s delivering for local businesses and our state’s economy, as made clear in the National Park Service’s latest report.

White Sands National Park visitor spending graphic — GRAPHIC: National Park Service data on the Economic Contributions of White Sands National Park Visitor Spending in 2023.

Last year alone, 729,000 visitors spent an estimated $44.5 million in local gateway regions while visiting White Sands National Park. They supported nearly 600 local jobs and generated nearly $17 million in labor income, more than $27 million in value added, and more than $53 million in economic output in the local gateway economies that surround White Sands.

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich and students — PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich hikes with students from Columbia Elementary School at White Sands National Monument as he works to advance legislation to make it New Mexico’s newest National Park, April 24, 2019.

Generations of New Mexico families have spent time together hiking and sledding down the gypsum dunes in White Sands. In recent years, White Sands has also become the site of major scientific and archaeological findings.

By elevating White Sands to the National Park status it has long deserved, we inspired even more families—from near and far—to discover the experiences you can only find in the Land of Enchantment.

Sincerely,

martin heinrich signature

MARTIN HEINRICH
United States Senator