Office of Communications News Release

Release Date: January, 28, 2011
For Immediate Release
Bill Line, Toni Braxton 202 619-7400

National Park Service names Tara D. Morrison as new Superintendent of Rock Creek Park

Washington, D.C. – National Park Service (NPS) National Capital Region Director Peggy O'Dell announces the selection of Tara D. Morrison as the new Superintendent of Rock Creek Park, located entirely in the District of Columbia.  Morrison begins her new assignment March 13, 2011 and replaces former Acting Superintendent Cynthia Cox, who retains her position as Deputy Superintendent, Rock Creek Park.

 "It is my pleasure to announce Tara Morrison's appointment as the new Superintendent of Rock Creek Park," said O'Dell. "Tara's more than a dozen years experience in the NPS in a variety of different urban settings makes her an excellent choice to lead this park. She has a proven ability to work with partner organizations and community groups in previous assignments and I believe Tara will do the same for Rock Creek Park."    

Morrison comes to Rock Creek Park from the position of Superintendent of the NPS' African Burial Ground National Monument in lower Manhattan, a site where free and enslaved Africans and African Americans were buried in a 6.6-acre site. Morrison held that position from August 2006 until now.  Morrison provided leadership for the development of interpretive media for the first African Burial Ground Visitor Center as well as managed a $2 million budget and a $5.2 million project-funded Visitor Center.  She is credited with strategically working with staff and the public during the development of the park's first General Management Plan process to ensure public understanding of and public engagement in the process.

Prior to her position as Superintendent, Morrison served for about two and one-half years as Management Assistant at the NPS' Northeast Regional Office, leading the African Burial Assistance Project, coordinating communication with various NPS offices, the General Services Administration and the public regarding the development of a memorial and Interpretive Center at the Monument, including construction and curation of project collections.

 Before the African Burial Ground National Monument positions, Morrison served as Acting Assistant Superintendent at the NPS' Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, NJ, where she reviewed and assisted in developing park-specific project requests, budget prioritization and recommendations for revision.  

Adding prior Washington experience to her resume, Morrison served as Special Assistant to the Deputy NPS Director in 2005 where she tracked and coordinated information requests from Congress, the Interior Department, the NPS Office of Management and Budget examiner and other NPS Washington staff.

Morrison began her NPS career in 1998 as a Park Ranger at NPS' Boston African American National Historic Site. Morrison joined the NPS' National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program as the NPS' Northeast Region Coordinator where she provided advice, subject matter expertise, and technical matter support toward the implementation of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act.    

 "I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve in this position," Morrison said. "Rock Creek Park provides visitors of all ages with a wide array of recreation as well as cultural and natural resources in a setting of natural beauty directly in the middle of a major urban area.

I look forward to working with Rock Creek Park's dedicated staff, volunteers and partners who are committed to serving our visitors, who are invested in the stewardship of our natural and cultural resources, and who are engaged in providing meaningful and memorable experiences to those who visit a truly scenic national park located within short distances of the White House and Capitol Hill."   

 Morrison holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in African American Studies from Northeastern University in Boston, graduating in 1994. Morrison earned a Graduate Certificate in Museum Management in 1997 and completed all coursework required for a Master of Science degree in Anthropology, both from the University of South Carolina at Columbia, SC. 

 As Superintendent of Rock Creek Park, Morrison will oversee an FY 2011 budget of approximately $10.2 million and will manage approximately 72 permanent and seasonal and summer employees.   

 

-NPS-