With the Call to Action challenging the NPS to “Go Green,” Richmond NBP and Maggie L. Walker NHS hosted three NER parks – Petersburg NB, Fort McHenry NM, and Hampton NHS -- for a two-day Climate Friendly Parks workshop this week.

Staff from the Sustainable Operations and Climate Change branch of the Park Facility Management Division, along with Northeast Region and park staff, coordinated the workshop, which included informative presentations and activities facilitated by guest speakers from the National Wildlife Federation, the Virginia park system, the U.S. Department of Energy, and others.  As part of the workshop, staff from each park began developing action plans for measures they can take to become more sustainable.

The Climate Friendly Parks Program is a great tool for parks to support the Director’s Call to Action and the recently released Green Parks Plan.  As the NPS continues to respond to environmental issues occurring across the country, the CFP program provides opportunities for staff to learn more about the science of climate change, managing park resources with a sustainability focus and educating visitors about what actions your park is taking and how they can help to reduce their personal environmental ‘footprint’.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks.

Contact Information
Name: Elizabeth Paradis Stern, Chief of Interpretation