New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Superintendent John Piltzecker announced today that details about the Park’s appropriated budget, project and fee revenues for fiscal year 2003 are available for public review as required by the National Parks and Omnibus Management Act of 1998. Highlights of the park's $630,000 appropriated budget include:

$ 138,000 for Resource Preservation and Management - An integral part of the National Park Service (NPS) mission is to preserve and protect the nation's historical and cultural resources. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established in 1996 in order to "preserve for the benefit and inspiration of the people of the United States as a national historical park certain districts, structures, and relics...associated with the history of whaling and related social, environmental and economic themes." Knowledge about the condition of historical and cultural resources is crucial to managing them well. By inventorying and evaluating its resources, the NPS establishes a basis for resource accountability, preservation, and interpretation. For fiscal year 2003 appropriated moneys have been allocated for the following resource preservation activities:

- Providing public access to the Historic District archives.
- Providing technical and staff assistance to the New Bedford Historical Commission.
- Collaborating with the city of New Bedford on physical improvement projects within and adjacent to the historical park.
- Providing preservation-related technical assistance to park partners.
- Park staff with principal duties in resource management, preservation & partnership assistance.

$ 201,900 for Visitor Services - National Parks have long been favorite and inexpensive destinations for millions of Americans as well as people from around the world. In fulfillment of the NPS mission to make America's National Parks available for public enjoyment and inspiration, appropriated funds have been allocated for the following visitor service and education activities:

- Support for special events and programs in collaboration with park partners.
- Official Park publications, website, Junior Ranger Program and orientation materials.
- Park sponsored public events/programs, such as the Thursday Evenings in the Park concert series and weekend programming.
- Informational/programming materials, including program bulletins and listings.
- Volunteer in the Parks (VIP) training.

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Fiscal Year 2003 Budget, page two—

- Support for the collaborative AHA! (Art, History, Architecture) arts and culture program.
- The Park’s collaborative Teen Arts Coalition youth program.
- Installation of Traveler Information Station signs on major highways.
- Park staff with principal duties in resource education and visitor services.

$ 137,000 for Facility Operations and Maintenance - The physical inventory of the NPS contains approximately 16,000 permanent structures, 8,000 miles of roads, 1,500 bridges and tunnels, 5,000 housing units, 1,500 water and wastewater systems, 200 radio systems, over 400 dams, and more than 200 solid waste operations. At New Bedford Whaling NHP, property ownership will be minimal and currently consists of the park's visitor center at 33 William Street. The interior phase of the preservation and rehabilitation of the park visitor center was completed in 2001 and the visitor center remains open to the public while final work is completed on the building’s exterior. Appropriated funds have been allocated for the following facility operations and maintenance activities:

- Visitor center utilities and improvements.
- Janitorial services/landscape services.
- Security and fire protection.
- Implementation of a cyclic maintenance program.
- Lighting/safety improvements.
- Park staff responsible for overseeing overall park operations and facility maintenance.

$ 150,000 for Park Administration - The operation of New Bedford Whaling NHP includes providing effective resource stewardship and service to approximately 280,000 annual visitors. Park management; financial and budget administration, personnel management, staffing, and employee development; small purchases, formal contracting and property management; cooperative agreements and grant management; and other related activities are currently completed by the park, with assistance by other parks and the NPS Boston Support Office. Appropriated funds have been allocated for:

- Park management, administration and employee development.
- Overhead costs (supplies, vehicle, postage, etc.)
- Park staff with principal duties in management, administrative support and accountability.

$ 3,100 Mandatory Agency Assessments - The portion of funds removed from the park's budget by the agency for a national program need or fund.

Project and Line-Item Construction Funds:

In addition to the $630,000 appropriation, the park has received $925,500 in Line Item Construction and project funding from the NPS. These project funds include:
In addition to the $630,000 appropriation, the park has received $925,500 in Line Item Construction and project funding from the NPS. These project funds include:

$ 500,000 for planning associated with the rehabilitation of the Corson Building - The Corson Building, located next to the park visitor center, suffered a devastating fire that destroyed its roof and top two floors. The building was saved by the Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) and stabilized with federal, state and municipal funds. WHALE intends to donate the building to the National Park Service. These planning funds will enable the National Park Service to complete the planning and design phase of a project that would rehabilitate the Corson Building to serve as an education and public program center for the park.

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Fiscal Year 2003 Budget, page three—

$ 400,000 for Outdoor Exhibits and Directional Signs - Funding through the Public Lands Highways
Discretionary Program of the US Department of Transportation will be used to design, upgrade and install
outdoor visitor information panel exhibits. Updated and new “wayside” exhibits will provide historical information on park themes and resources. New “wayfinders” will provide maps and directional information. A system of “trailblazer” sings will lead visitors to park sites and information centers. This is a carry-over project from fiscal year 2002.

$ 20,500 for a Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum Historic Furnishings Report - Funding through the Cultural Resource Preservation Program will be used to develop a historic furnishings report for the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum. The completion of this report is recommended in the park’s Collections Management Plan, completed in 2001. The Rotch-Jones-Duff House is a nineteenth century whaling merchant’s home, owned and managed by a non-profit organization. The park has legislative authority to assist in the preservation and interpretation of the site. These funds were approved in fiscal year 2002. The project will be undertaken this year.

$5,000 to Complete National Historic Landmark Nomination for the Rotch-Jones-Duff House – These funds are from the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program and will be matched on a one to one basis with non-federal funds.

A copy of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park's complete annual performance plan, prepared in accordance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), as well as the park’s General Management Plan, are available by writing to New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, 33 William Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740. The annual performance plan is also available on the park's website at www.nps.gov/nebe.

The goals described in the park's annual performance plan are derived from the NPS Strategic Plan, which establishes a performance management process for the Service and incorporates the requirements of GPRA. The Strategic Plan is available on the ParkNet, the NPS website at www.nps.gov.

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established in 1996 to preserve and interpret America's nineteenth century whaling history. The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the Service's only unit addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social and environmental history of the United States. For more information about the park, contact the park visitor center at (508) 996-4095.

Prepared 3/24/03

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