In spring 2019, the park announced new strategic priorities that will guide decision making over the next five years. The priorities revolve around the concepts of core, resources, experience, infrastructure, and partnerships. Superintendent Cam Sholly and the senior leadership team developed these priorities with significant input from field staff around the park. Each priority has key focus areas and a range of measurable actions that will continually be refined as work progresses. Focusing on the CORE![]() NPS / Jacob Frank Support the Yellowstone team first Improve employee housing, work conditions, health and wellness, team engagement, interdivisional respect and collaboration, accountability, professional development, hiring processes, internal communications. Improve financial management practices, priority setting processes, project formulation, workforce performance. Develop more efficient operational and programmatic alignments to improve resource sharing, communications, and organizational performance. Strengthening the Yellowstone Ecosystem & Heritage RESOURCES![]() NPS / Jacob W. Frank Advance and sustain the Yellowstone ecosystem Understand/Respond more effectively to climate change impacts; advance and sustain wildlife management and large landscape conservation efforts, identify new cooperative conservation opportunities with states and partners; continue building scientific capacity to improve decision making; improve environmental sustainability. Understand/Respond to environmental changes affecting cultural resources, build effective climate adaptation strategies and response planning, improve conditions of historic structures, protect archeological sites, collections, and archives; promote Tribal heritage and collaboration. Integrate NEPA, NHPA, legal requirements effectively into internal decision processes. Lead/Deliver on sustainability issues and collaborate with partners; Improve energy conservation and renewable technologies; Improve water management and efficiencies/upgrades in treatment plants, pipes, and fixtures; Reduce fuel use and GHG emissions by transforming size, types of vehicles, and technologies; Reduce waste and prevent pollution; Adapt infrastructure to a changing climate; Inventory, identify, map, and evaluate bone yards, dump sites, and environmental and hazardous waste locations. Delivering a World-Class Visitor EXPERIENCE![]() NPS / Jacob Frank Understand and respond to increased visitor use Develop effective visitor use strategy that focuses on protecting park resources, staffing/infrastructure, improving visitor enjoyment/recreation opportunities, and collaborating with gateway communities. Provide high levels of public safety, law enforcement, resource protection, emergency response, and other related services. Build world-class interpretive and educational experiences/programs using innovative technology, youth and community outreach, and citizen services. Provide exceptional facilities and amenities relating to accessibility, connectivity, recreational opportunities, and sustainable practices. Investing in INFRASTRUCTURE![]() NPS / Jacob W. Frank Build effective administrative framework Develop infrastructure investment strategy, improve condition data, project scoping, planning and design processes, and short and long-term fund source priorities. Improve existing housing, replace obsolete housing, identify external housing partnership opportunities. Improve condition of park bridges, roads, parking lots, and other transportation priorities. Rehabilitate condition of high-priority historic assets. Improve condition of wastewater critical systems and fresh water critical systems; Liquid propane gas and electrical generation/distribution systems; Entrance stations, amphitheaters, and campgrounds; Concession-assigned facilities and infrastructure; Trails, boardwalks, and marinas. Building Coalitions & PARTNERSHIPS![]() NPS / Jacob W. Frank Become a higher-performing Yellowstone team Build relationships within/across division, district, and programmatic boundaries; Seek new ways of collaboration/partnership for the benefit of One Yellowstone; Actively communicate across all park and NPS levels. Support ongoing capital/programmatic investments with Yellowstone Forever; Continue building a robust philanthropic platform; Collaboratively develop/prioritize future projects. Strengthen partner relations with gateway community leaders; Communicate on regular schedules with community stakeholders; Develop responsive actions and mutual collaboration areas. Cultivate close relationships with Tribes; Convey appropriate Native American heritage through education, public outreach, and programming efforts and Tribal connections. Build and maintain strong relationships with members of Congress; Strengthen close relationships with political officials at state/local levels. Cultivate close relationships with conservation, concessioner, business, recreation, and environmental partners who share values consistent with the NPS mission and Yellowstone. ![]() 2023 State of the Park
View and download Yellowstone's 2023 State of the Park report. ![]() 2021 State of the Park
View and download Yellowstone's 2021 State of the Park report. |
Last updated: September 25, 2023