Bay Area National Park Projects

Date: August 23, 2007
Contact: Michael Feinstein, 415.561.4733
Contact: John Dell'Osso, 415.464.5135
Contact: Lynn Cullivan, 415.561.7006

Bay Area National Park Projects
Selected as Eligible for Matching Donations

(San Francisco, August 23, 2007)—Projects in Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and Point Reyes National Seashore have been selected by the National Park Service (NPS) as eligible to receive funds under the proposed Centennial Challenge Initiative. This Initiative seeks to provide enhanced public and philanthropic funds for America’s national parks as the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service approaches. Established in 1916, the National Park Service will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2016.

All eligible projects include a mix of federal funds and private philanthropic support.

Eligible GGNRA projects and programs include:

• Projects of the ongoing “Trails Forever Initiative”—a cooperative effort of the Park Service, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and Presidio Trust. The NPS Initiative is revitalizing and enhancing park trails in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin Counties, including Lands End, the Presidio, and Mori Point. The project work focuses on the California Coastal Trail.
• Programs to attract youth and diverse communities to the park through programming, transportation and youth leadership. 
• Redesign of former military posts for recreational uses along the Fort Baker waterfront.
• “The Institute at the Golden Gate” (Fort Baker)—a new program being developed at Fort Baker focusing on environmental stewardship at the local, national and international level.

At GGNRA, the NPS would work directly with its nonprofit partner, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, in engaging private philanthropy and securing the funds for these projects and programs. All eligible projects and programs have been approved, taking into account their philanthropic feasibility, existing philanthropic commitments, and track record.

Eligible Point Reyes National Seashore projects include:

• Development of communication tools about ocean threats and protection opportunities
• Recreational trail enhancement to a major coastal scenic area (Abbotts Lagoon)
• Giacomini wetlands restoration. 

Projects at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and other Bay Area national parks may be selected next year for funding. 

These Bay Area national park projects are part of nearly $370 million of proposals eligible for Centennial Challenge matching funds. The Centennial Challenge is a bold proposal to match

$100 million a year over 10 years of public money with $100 million a year for 10 years in private

donations. Congress will be working on legislation necessary to create the public/­private Centennial Challenge.

National Park Service Director Mary Bomar said, "The Centennial Initiative is a potential $3 billion investment in our national parks, two-thirds of it a public-private partnership of matching money.

The President's fiscal year 2008 budget called for an additional $100 million a year for 10 years to be dedicated to bolster basic park operations,” Bomar said.  Congress has included the first $100 million for operations in the fiscal year 2008 budget that awaits final passage.

“Judging by the warm reception we received in the Senate and House subcommittees,” Bomar said, I believe Congress will include Centennial Challenge money in our next budget.”

To be certified, proposals had to be imaginative and innovative, address critical Service needs, have a philanthropic partner, and require little or no additional recurring operating funds to be sustainable, improve the efficiency of park management, operations and employees, and produce measurable results.                                           

More information on the Centennial Challenge Initiative can be found on the website www.nps.gov/2016.

–NPS-