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Official White House Photo
Contact: Rick Perkins, 740-774-1126 President's Budget Requests $3 billion dollars for NPS Innovative Centennial Initiative Proposes Robust Investment to Revitalize National Parks and Public Lands for the Next Century Chillicothe, OH – President Obama's budget request for fiscal year 2016 –the centennial year of the National Park Service –includes $3 billion for the bureau's critical conservation, preservation, and recreation mission. The budget boosts the National Park Service's essential programs and operational needs by $432.9 million. .It is significant for Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and parks around the country because it prepares us to welcome a new generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates to experience national parks. "In 2016, the National Park Service will celebrate its Centennial by inviting hundreds of millions of Americans to find their park by visiting a park and sharing their favorite park story," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "This budget will prepare the National Park Service to ensure that every one of those visitors has a wonderful and safe experience." Jarvis said, "This is an investment in America' Best idea" that pays dividends in gateway communities across the nation. For every dollar appropriated to the National Park Service in the President's 2016 Centennial budget, $10 is returned to the American economy in the form of visitor spending, travel and tourism and construction jobs. "The President's request contains all the elements necessary for those of us who tend to America's Best Idea to repair an ageing infrastructure, respond to climate change, host school field trips, and provide rangers to greet nearly 300 million visitors with the highest standard of public service," Jarvis said. The budget proposal would provide targeted increases for the National Park Service Centennial Initiative, a multi-year effort to support the preservation of America's natural, cultural and historic treasures, invest wisely in the National Park System's most important assets, expand the use of parks for informal learning and recreation, engage 600,000 volunteers, and enhance the National Park Service's ability to leverage partnerships to accomplish its mission. It also proposes funds to celebrate civil rights in America through targeted investments to highlight the struggle undertaken by Americans to secure civil rights and liberties;actions that inspired many groups in America and around the world to continue to pursue progress for civil rights. "This centennial budget is the cornerstone for the next 100 years of stewardship of America's iconic natural, cultural and historic resources," Hopewell Culture National Historical Park superintendent Dean Alexander said."It's the blueprint for how we connect with and create the next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates." Hopewell Culture National Historical Park's Centennial goals include connecting people to parks by creating a deeper connection for a younger generation by involving youth in park resource management and stewardship;expanding opportunities for people to get healthy in parks by creating new hiking and running trails;making the accomplishments of the Hopewell more accessible;and engaging citizens in celebrating the earthworks by participating in living earthwork events. As the keeper of 405 national parks, 23 national scenic and national historic trails, and 60 wild and scenic rivers, the National Park Service is charged with preserving these lands and historic features for their cultural and historic significance, scenic and environmental worth, and educational and recreational opportunities. Additionally, National Park Service grant and technical assistance programs help revitalize communities and expand local recreation opportunities across the country. |
Last updated: April 10, 2015