On August 25, 2006, on the 90th anniversary of the National Park Service, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne launched the National Park Centennial Initiative to prepare national parks for another century of conservation, preservation, and enjoyment. Since then NPS has asked citizens, park partners, experts, and other stakeholders what they envisioned for a second century of national parks.

A nationwide series of more than 40 listening sessions—one held at Boston's Faneuil Hall—produced more than 6,000 comments that helped to shape five centennial goals. The goals and vision were presented to President Bush and to the American people in a report:

» The Future of America’s National Parks (PDF)

Every national park staff took their lead from this report and created local centennial strategies to describe their vision and desired accomplishments by 2016. This is just the first year, and there are many great things to come as the National Park Service prepares to celebrate 100 years.

» 2008 Boston Harbor Islands Centennial Strategy 

To keep up with the Centennial Initiative and to experience the interactive version of The Future of America’s National Parks and other special features please visit www.nps.gov/2016.

Centennial Proposals
The Boston Harbor Islands strategy is supported by proposals for action prepared by the National Park Service, in cooperation with partners. Two proposals were selected by the Centennial Team in August 2007:

» All-taxa Biotic Inventory (ATBI) Centennial Project (PDF, 84kb)
» Eco-friendly Visitor Services Centennial Project (PDF, 95kb)

Centennial Project Selection
Two Boston Harbor Islands proposals were announced as eligible for Centennial matching funds on August 23 at a press event in Yosemite National Park. The projects total $1.7 million of nearly $370 million of Centennial Challenge proposals certified as eligible nationwide for 2008.

» Centennial Project News Release (55kb)