The strength of the National Park Service is in its diversity. There is a wide variety of National Park Service parks, programs, and partners doing incredible things in urban areas across the country. Take a minute to browse through just some of these parks, programs, and partners and look for a new park, program, or partnership featured here each week.
Parks Golden Gate National Recreation AreaParks for the People: The park chronicles 200 years of history, from Native American culture, Spanish Empire frontier, California Gold Rush, evolution of American coastal fortifications, and growth of urban San Francisco; comprising of 19 separate ecosystems & home to 1,273 plant/animal species. It has hundreds of ways to recreate including horseback riding, ranger-led programs, bicycling, hiking, and walking your dog.
A Journey To Parks Beyond: National Capital Parks-East is a place to journey to parks beyond the Capital of Washington, D.C. National Capital Parks-East is 13 park sites, parkways and statuary covering more than 8,000 acres of historic, cultural, and recreational parklands from Capitol Hill to the nearby Maryland suburbs.
Icons of the Nation's Capital: Each year, millions of people visit the National Mall and Memorial Parks to recreate, to commemorate presidential legacies, to honor our nation's veterans, to make their voices heard, and to celebrate our nation's commitment to freedom and equality.
Where the Waters Meet: Visit one of the last unspoiled coastal wetlands on the Atlantic Coast. Discover 6,000 years of human history and experience the beauty of salt marshes, coastal dunes, and hardwood hammocks. The Timucuan Preserve includes Fort Caroline and Kingsley Plantation.
Gateway to the West: The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse.
Discover How the Fight for Civil Rights can Change the World: Women's Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women's Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, NY on July 19-20,1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human rights, and equality, global struggles that continue today. The efforts of women's rights leaders, abolitionists, and other 19th century reformers remind us that all people must be accepted as equals.
From the Mountains to the Sea: Hidden in plain sight from Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultural sites, from old movie ranches to Native American centers. What will you and your family discover?
Death Knell of the Confederacy: In 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought for control of Chattanooga, known as the "Gateway to the Deep South." The Confederates were victorious at nearby Chickamauga in September. However, renewed fighting in Chattanooga that November provided Union troops victory and control of the city. After the fighting, a Confederate soldier ominously wrote, "This...is the death-knell of the Confederacy."
The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people: Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.
Here is a place: Where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, visit historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking or swimming-all within reach of downtown Boston. Youth programs, visitor services, research, wildlife management, and more are coordinated on the park's 34 islands and peninsulas by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership.
Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset.
A Watery Wonderland: Within sight of downtown Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Here too is evidence of 10,000 years of human history, from pirates and shipwrecks to pineapple farmers and presidents. Outdoors enthusiasts can boat, snorkel, camp, watch wildlife…or simply relax in a rocking chair gazing out over the bay.
Discover the continuing revolution: Lowell's water-powered textile mills catapulted the nation –including immigrant families and early female factory workers –into an uncertain new industrial era. Nearly 200 years later, the changes that began here still reverberate in our shifting global economy. Explore Lowell, a living monument to the dynamic human story of the Industrial Revolution.
National Parks at Your Doorstep: You may be surprised to learn that there are 10 National Parks with 22 unique destinations in New York City and northern New Jersey. The National Parks of New York Harbor includes nearly 27,000 acres and welcomes more than 12 million visitors each year. The parks offer year-round programs, recreational opportunities, natural habitats, historic buildings and museum collections.
The largest, most hotly-contested battle of the Revolutionary War's Southern Campaign was fought at the small North Carolina backcountry hamlet of Guilford Courthouse. The battle proved to be the highwater mark of British military operations in the Revolutionary War.
Rivers to Explore: The St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers offer 255 miles of clean water gliding or rushing past a lush green landscape, with glimpses of human presence. Choose to canoe and camp amid the Northwoods, or boat and fish surrounded by wooded bluffs and historic towns. This river corridor provides bountiful scenic views and a haven for wildlife near a major metropolitan area. Plan a visit!
Along the Crooked River: Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discovery for visitors. The winding Cuyahoga River gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. Walk or ride the Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio &Erie Canal.
Experience Jazz Music Where it all Began: Only in New Orleans could there be a National Park for jazz! Drop by our French Market visitor center to inquire about musical events around town. In the mood for a world class musical experience? Attend a jazz concert or ranger performance at the new state of the art performance venue in the Old U.S. Mint
184.5 Miles of Adventure! Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural and recreational treasures!
*More NPS Parks will be added each week.
Programs Archeology Program: Discover the research that's been done both in national parks and in communities nationwide. Centennial Office: On August 25, 2016, the National Park Service turns 100! The Centennial will kick off a second century of stewardship of America's national parks and engaging communities through recreation, conservation, and historic preservation programs, and will celebrate achievements of the past 100 years. Certified Local Government Program: Local, State, and Federal governments work together in the Federal Preservation Program to help communities save the irreplaceable historic character of places. Through the certification process, communities make a local commitment to historic preservation. Cultural Resources programs: Discover history and historic preservation in the National Park Service. Cultural Resources Geographical Information System Facility (CRGIS): The mission of the National Park Service Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) facility is to institutionalize the use of GIS, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Remote Sensing technologies in historic preservation within the National Park system. Land and Water Conservation Fund: The LWCF Program provides matching grants to States and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities (as well as funding for shared federal land acquisition and conservation strategies). National Heritage Areas: National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape. Through their resources, NHAs tell nationally important stories that celebrate our nation's diverse heritage. NHAs are lived-in landscapes. Consequently, NHA entities collaborate with communities to determine how to make heritage relevant to local interests and needs. Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program: This program encourages private sector investment in the rehabilitation and re-use of historic buildings. It creates jobs and is one of the nation's most successful and cost-effective community revitalization programs. Federal Preservation Institute: Established by the National Park Service in 2000, the Federal Preservation Institute (FPI) provides historic preservation training and education materials for use by all federal agencies and preservation officers. Heritage Documentation Programs: There are three programs--HABS (Historic American Buildings Survey), the Federal Government's oldest preservation program, and companion programs HAER (Historic American Engineering Record), and HALS (Historic American Landscapes Survey). Documentation produced through the programs constitutes the nation's largest archive of historic architectural, engineering, and landscape documentation. National Historic Landmarks Program: National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) are nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. Today, just over 2,500 historic places bear this national distinction. Working with citizens throughout the nation, the National Historic Landmarks Program draws upon the expertise of National Park Service staff who guide the nomination process for new Landmarks and provide assistance to existing Landmarks. National Register of Historic Places: The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources. Office of Policy: Focused on advancing the mission of the National Park Service by developing and communicating policy and regulations (and helping others do so), and administering the committee management program. We serve as principal staff to the Director in these areas, and support and staff the National Park System Advisory Board. Office of Outreach: The Mission of the National Park Service's Cultural Resources Office of Outreach is to provide outreach to and about underserved communities to enhance the relevance of the national preservation programs. The office also promotes relevance, diversity and inclusion for cultural resources within NPS. Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA): The National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program supports community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects across the nation. Technical Preservation Services: Technical Preservation Services provides technical assistance and guidance on the preservation of historic properties. Youth programs: National parks are a place for discovery, exploration, contemplation, and a place for you. Youth Programs are designed to connect youth and young adults with their natural and cultural resources. Our goal is to expose youth and young adults with employment and educational opportunities in public land management and develop the next generation of conservation leaders.
*More NPS programs will be added each week.
Partners Groundwork USA: Dedicated to changing places and changing lives, Groundwork USA is a national organization with local roots, engaging local businesses, residents and government officials to revitalize neighborhoods and transform community liabilities into community assets. National Parks Conservation Association: NPCA plays a crucial role in ensuring that that park lands and landmarks are protected in perpetuity. Wilderness Inquiry (Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventure): The Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventures (UWCA) connects thousands of Minnesota youth to the natural world through hands-on outdoor learning experiences in environments that are close to home. The program works with federal, state, and local entities to engage youth in year-round opportunities—addressing the achievement gap, connecting diverse youth to outdoor jobs, scholarships, and careers, and fostering the next generation of environmental stewards. Greening Youth Foundation: The Greening Youth Foundation's (GYF) mission is to work with diverse, underserved and underrepresented children, youth and young adults in an effort to develop and nurture enthusiastic and responsible environmental stewards. Quebec-Labrador Foundation: QLF exists to support the rural communities and environment of eastern Canada and New England to create models for stewardship of natural resources and cultural heritage that can be applied worldwide. The Trust for Public Land: The Trust for Public Land works to protect the places people care about and to create close-to-home parks—particularly in and near cities, where 85 percent of Americans live. Mississippi River Fund: The Mississippi River Fund is committed to preserving, protecting, and enjoying the Mississippi River, the national park that runs through the Twin Cities. City Parks Alliance: The only independent, nationwide membership organization solely dedicated to urban parks. It unites and serves a growing network of hundreds of civic and community leaders, government agencies, parks and recreation authorities, funders and others. US Fish and Wildlife Service-Urban Wildlife Conservation Program: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's vision for the National Wildlife Refuge System, entitled Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation, proposes the Service to increase relevancy to urban citizens. This initiative will establish measures to help define and achieve standards of excellence for urban refuges, create a framework for creating new urban partnerships, and establish a refuge presence in ten demographically and geographically varied cities in the U.S.The Intertwine: The Intertwine Alliance is a coalition of private firms, public agencies and nonprofit organizations working together to tap new sources of funding, better leverage existing investments, and more fully engage residents with the outdoors and nature.
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Last updated: April 9, 2015