The National Park Foundation and the Ford Proud Partner Programs

In 2000, the National Park Foundation, the National Park Service, and the Ford Motor Company inaugurated an unprecedented partnership to promote the need for comprehensive mobility and conservation strategies. This initiative is not an attempt to promote the private automobile; but a recognition of the need for a comprehensive approach toward mobility in National Parks through alternative transportation systems, environmental education, traveler information, and traffic management strategies.

As a Proud Partner of America's National Parks, Ford Motor Company works with the NPS and the NPF to identify innovative mobility solutions and to promote conservation education throughout more than 380 National Parks. These solutions lead to an improved visitor experience while preserving natural and cultural resources.

Specifically, Ford has funded two new programs, the Transportation Interpreters Program and the Transportation Scholars Program . 

Ford Scholar Transportation Symposium
For the past four years, Masters and PhD scholars have been placed in several National Parks across the country to work with National Park Service staff on projects such as transportation planning and analysis, coordination with local communities, environmental and traffic studies, and other transportation related tasks.

This unique partnership between the National Park Foundation, the National Park Service and the Eno Transportation Foundation, and through the generous support of Ford Motor Company, is not only an interesting and exciting opportunity for the transportation scholars, but it is an invaluable benefit to National Parks and their future.

In 2004, eleven parks benefited from the unique expertise of a Ford Transportation Scholar. On January 11, 2005 several of the scholars were brought together for a “Transportation Symposium” to present their work and respond to specific questions or issues that various units of the National Park Service are facing. The Scholars represent a wealth of knowledge in a variety of transportation fields and this was an opportunity to draw upon the Scholars' collective expertise for advice and to learn about best practices for solving transportation problems in parks.

The presentations are available below:

Improving Transit through Regional Partnerships and Planning at Devils Postpile National Monument - Virginia Smith

Golden Gate Implementing ITS on a Small Scale - Can it really be this complicated? - Amy Ford

Transportation Issues at Pecos National Memorial - Lucas Cruse

All Aboard for Cleveland – Rail Transportation Linkages in Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Pasi Lautala

Transportation Infrastructure Needs at Mesa Verde National Park - Jonathan Upchurch

Feasibility of a Clean Bus Tour District in Yellowstone National Park - Thomas Barron

A New Transportation System at Fort Clatsop National Memorial - Ethan Abeles