National Park Service arrowhead insignia
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Guidon of the National Park Service
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | August 25, 1916 |
| Jurisdiction | United States federal government |
| Headquarters | Main Interior Building 1849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20240 |
| Employees | 12,363 (2018) |
| Annual budget | $2.924 billion (2009) |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Department of the Interior |
| Website | www.NPS.gov |
The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. It was created on August 25, 1916, by Congress through the National Park Service Organic Act and is an agency of the United States Department of the Interior. The NPS is charged with a dual role of preserving the ecological and historical integrity of the places entrusted to its management while also making them available and accessible for public use and enjoyment.
As of 2018, the NPS employs approximately 12,363 employees who oversee 419 units, of which 62 are designated national parks.
History
In
1916, a portfolio of nine major parks was published to generate
interest. Printed on each brochure was a map showing the parks and
principal railroad connections.
In
1934, a series of ten postage stamps were issued to commemorate the
reorganization and expansion of the National Park Service.
National parks and national monuments in the United States were
originally individually managed under the auspices of the Department of
the Interior. The movement for an independent agency to oversee these
federal lands was spearheaded by business magnate and conservationist Stephen Mather, as well as J. Horace McFarland. With the help of journalist Robert Sterling Yard, Mather ran a publicity campaign for the Department of the Interior.
They wrote numerous articles that praised the scenic and historic
qualities of the parks and their possibilities for educational,
inspirational, and recreational benefits. This campaign resulted in the creation of a National Park Service. On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson
signed a bill that mandated the agency "to conserve the scenery and the
natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for
the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave
them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Mather became the first director of the newly formed NPS.
On March 3, 1933, President Herbert Hoover
signed the Reorganization Act of 1933. The act would allow the
president to reorganize the executive branch of the United States
government. It wasn't until later that summer when the new president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, made use of this power. Deputy Director Horace M. Albright
had suggested to President Roosevelt that the historic sites from the
American Civil War should be managed by the National Park Service,
rather than the War Department. President Roosevelt agreed and issued
two Executive orders
to make it happen. These two executive orders not only transferred to
the National Park Service all the War Department historic sites, but
also the national monuments managed by the Department of Agriculture and
the parks in and around the capital, which had been run by an
independent office.
In 1951, Conrad Wirth
became director of the National Park Service and went to work on
bringing park facilities up to the standards that the public expected.
The demand for parks after the end of the World War II had left the parks overburdened with demands that could not be met. In 1952, with the support of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, he began Mission 66,
a ten-year effort to upgrade and expand park facilities for the 50th
anniversary of the Park Service. New parks were added to preserve unique
resources and existing park facilities were upgraded and expanded.
In 1966, as the Park Service turned 50 years old, emphasis began
to turn from just saving great and wonderful scenery and unique natural
features to making parks accessible to the public. Director George Hartzog began the process with the creation of the National Lakeshores and then National Recreation Areas.
National Park Service
Grand Canyon National Park, south rim of canyon.
A National Park Service MD 900 helicopter
NPS Preliminary Survey party, Great Smoky Mountains, 1931
Winter at the Gettysburg Battlefield
Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service has managed
each of the United States' national parks, which have grown in number
over the years to 62.
Yellowstone National Park was the first national park in the United States. In 1872, there was no state government to manage it, so the federal government assumed direct control. Yosemite National Park began as a state park; the land for the park was donated by the federal government to the state of California in 1864 for perpetual conservation. Yosemite was later returned to federal ownership.
At first, each national park was managed independently, with
varying degrees of success. In Yellowstone, the civilian staff was
replaced by the U.S. Army
in 1886. Due to the irregularities in managing these national
treasures, Stephen Mather petitioned the federal government to improve
the situation. In response, Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane challenged him to lobby
for creating a new agency, the National Park Service, to manage all
national parks and some national monuments. Mather was successful with
the ratification of the National Park Service Organic Act in 1916. Later, the agency was given authority over other protected areas, many with varying designations as Congress created them.
Directors
Stephen Mather (center) and his staff, 1927 or 1928
Jon Jarvis, Former NPS Director
|
|
Name | Term of office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | ||
| 1 | Stephen Mather | May 16, 1917 | January 8, 1929 |
| 2 | Horace M. Albright | January 12, 1929 | August 9, 1933 |
| 3 | Arno B. Cammerer | August 10, 1933 | August 9, 1940 |
| 4 | Newton B. Drury | August 20, 1940 | March 31, 1951 |
| 5 | Arthur E. Demaray | April 1, 1951 | December 8, 1951 |
| 6 | Conrad L. Wirth | December 9, 1951 | January 7, 1964 |
| 7 | George B. Hartzog Jr. | January 9, 1964 | December 31, 1972 |
| 8 | Ronald H. Walker | January 7, 1973 | January 3, 1975 |
| 9 | Gary Everhardt | January 13, 1975 | May 27, 1977 |
| 10 | William J. Whalen III | July 5, 1977 | May 13, 1980 |
| 11 | Russell E. Dickenson | May 15, 1980 | March 3, 1985 |
| 12 | William Penn Mott Jr. | May 17, 1985 | April 16, 1989 |
| 13 | James M. Ridenour | April 17, 1989 | January 20, 1993 |
| 14 | Roger G. Kennedy | June 1, 1993 | March 29, 1997 |
| 15 | Robert Stanton | August 4, 1997 | January 2001 |
| 16 | Fran P. Mainella | July 18, 2001 | October 15, 2006 |
| 17 | Mary A. Bomar | October 17, 2006 | January 20, 2009 |
| 18 | Jonathan Jarvis | September 24, 2009 | January 20, 2017 |
National Park System
Customs House at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site in Salem, Massachusetts.
The National Park System (NPS) includes all properties managed by the National Park Service (also, confusingly, "NPS"). The title or designation of a unit need not include the term park; indeed, most do not. The System as a whole is considered to be a national treasure of the United States, and some of the more famous national parks and monuments are sometimes referred to metaphorically as "crown jewels".
The system encompasses approximately 84.4 million acres (338,000 km²),
of which more than 4.3 million acres (17,000 km²) remain in private
ownership. The largest unit is Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. At 13,200,000 acres (53,000 km²), it is over 16 percent of the entire system. The smallest unit in the system is Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, Pennsylvania, at 0.02 acre (80 m²).
In addition to administering its units and other properties, the
National Park Service also provides technical and financial assistance
to several "affiliated areas" authorized by Congress. The largest
affiliated area is New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve at 1,164,025 acres (4711 km²). The smallest is Benjamin Franklin National Memorial at less than 0.01 acres (40 m2).
Although all units of the National Park System in the United
States are the responsibility of a single agency, they are all managed
under individual pieces of authorizing legislation or, in the case of
national monuments created under the Antiquities Act, presidential proclamation. For example, because of provisions within their enabling legislation, Congaree National Park is almost entirely wilderness area devoid of development, yet Yosemite allows unique developments such as the Badger Pass Ski Area and the O'Shaughnessy Dam within its boundaries. Death Valley National Park
has an active mine legislated within its boundaries. Such
irregularities would not be found in other parks unless specifically
provided for with exceptions by the legislation that created them.
Holdings
For current specifics and a multitude of information, see the Quick Facts section of the NPS website.
| Type | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Area of land | 84,000,000 acres | 340,000 km2 |
| Area of oceans, lakes, reservoirs | 4,502,644 acres | 18,222 km2 |
| Length of perennial rivers and streams | 85,049 mi | 136,873 km |
| Archeological sites | 68,561 | |
| Length of shoreline | 43,162 mi | 69,463 km |
| Historic structures | 27,000 | |
| Objects in museum collections | 121,603,193 | |
| Buildings | 21,000 | |
| Trails | 12,250 mi | 19,710 km |
| Roads | 8,500 mi | 13,700 km |
Criteria
Most
units of the National Park Service have been established by an act of
Congress, with the president confirming the action by signing the act
into law. The exception, under the Antiquities Act,
allows the president to designate and protect areas as national
monuments by executive order. Regardless of the method used, all parks
are to be of national importance.
A potential park should meet all four of the following standards:
- It is an outstanding example of a particular type of resource.
- It possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the natural or cultural themes of our Nation's heritage.
- It offers superlative opportunities for recreation, for public use and enjoyment, or for scientific study.
- It retains a high degree of integrity as a true, accurate, and relatively unspoiled example of the resource.
Special designations
Wilderness areas are covered by the US National Wilderness Preservation System, which protects federally managed lands that are of a pristine condition, established by the Wilderness Act (Public Law 88-577) in 1964. The National Wilderness Preservation System originally created hundreds of wilderness zones within already protected federally administered property, consisting of over 9 million acres (36,000 km²).
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) began with Executive Order 13158 in May 2000, when official MPAs were established for the first time.
The initial listing of U.S. areas was presented in 2010, consisting of
areas already set aside under other legislation. The National Park
Service has 19 park units designated as MPAs.
Budget
As of 2016, the National Park Service has an annual budget of about $3 billion and an estimated $12 billion maintenance backlog.
The National Park Services budget is divided into two primary areas, discretionary and mandatory spending. Within each of these areas, there are numerous specific purposes to which Congress directs the services activities. The budget of the National Park Service includes discretionary spending which is broken out into two portions: the direct operations of the National Parks and the special initiatives.
Listed separately are the special initiatives of the service for the
year specified in the legislation. For fiscal year 2010, the service
has been charged with five initiatives. They include: stewardship and
education; professional excellence; youth programs; climate change
impacts; and budget restructure and realignment.
Discretionary spending
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NPS Operations of the National Parks budget from FY 2001-FY 2006
Discretionary spending includes the Operations of the National Parks (ONPS), from which all park operations are paid. The United States Park Police funds cover the high-profile law enforcement operations at some of the large parks, including Gateway National Recreation Area, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the National Mall. The National Recreation and Preservation Program and the Urban Park and Recreation Fund are outreach programs to support state and local outdoor recreational activities.
The ONPS section of the budget is divided into five operational areas. These areas include:
Resource stewardship
These
are funds and people directed towards the restoration, preservation,
and maintenance of natural and cultural resources. The resource staff
includes biologists, geologists, archeologists, preservation specialists
and a variety of specialized employees to restore and preserve cultural
buildings or natural features.
Visitor services
Funds go toward providing for public programs
and educational programs for the general public and school groups. This
area is commonly staffed by park rangers, who are trained in providing
walks, talks, and educational programs to the public. There is an
increased number of media specialists, who provide for the exhibits
along trails, roads and in visitor contact facilities, as well as the
written brochures and web-sites.
Park protection
This
includes the staff responding to visitor emergencies (medical and
criminal), and the protection of the park's natural and cultural
resources from damage by those persons visiting the park. The staff
includes park rangers, park police, criminal investigators, and communication center operators.
Facility maintenance and operations
This
is the cost of maintaining the necessary infrastructure within each
park that supports all the services provided. It includes the plows and
heavy equipment for road clearing, repairs and construction. There are
buildings, trails, roads, docks, boats, utility pipes and wires, and a
variety of hidden systems that make a park accessible by the public. The
staff includes equipment operators, custodians, trail crews,
electricians, plumbers, engineers, architects, and other building trade
specialists.
Park support
This
is the staff that provides for the routine logistical needs of the
parks. There are human resource specialists, contracting officers,
property specialists, budget managers, accountants and information
technology specialists.
External administrative costs
These
costs are bills that are paid directly to outside organizations as part
of the logistical support needed to run the parks. It includes rent
payments to the General Services Administration for building space; postage payments to the postal machine vendor, and other direct payments.
| Functional area | FY 2010 (in thousands) | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Resource stewardship | $347,328 | 15.3% |
| Visitor services | $247,386 | 10.9% |
| Park protection | $368,698 | 16.3% |
| Facility maintenance and operations | $705,220 | 31.1% |
| Park support | $441,854 | 19.5% |
| External administrative costs | $155,530 | 6.9% |
| Total (2010) | $2,266,016 |
Park partnerships
These
funds support the use of partnerships to achieve park preservation. 25
million dollars have been provided for FY 2010. These funds require
matching grants from individuals, foundations, businesses, and the
private sector.
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
The
LWCF supports Land Acquisition and State Conservation Assistance grant
programs. The 2010 funds are the beginning of an incremental process to
fully fund LWCF programs at $900 million. The Department of the Interior
and the U.S. Forest Service use these funds to purchase critical lands
to protect existing public lands. Grants will be made to states and
local communities to preserve and protect Civil War battlefield sites
that are not part of the national park system. The NPS State
Conservation Assistance program distributes funding to States for land
preservation.
Construction
This
segment of the budget provides for the construction of new facilities
or the replacement of aging and unsafe facilities. Additionally, there
are funds in the recreation fees, park roads funding, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that provide for other specific facilities/infrastructure work. Additional funds come from the Federal Land Highway Administration for the construction and repair of Park roads.
Historic preservation fund
As
the nation's leader in cultural preservation, funds are provided for a
variety of programs to meet these needs nationwide. Two specific
programs include the Save America's Treasures and the Preserve America. The Historic Preservation Offices makes grants available to the States, territories, and tribal lands.
National recreation and preservation
These
funds go to local communities to preserve natural and cultural
resources. Among the programs supported are the Rivers, Trails, and
Conservation Assistance programs that promote community links to parks,
natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation across America.
Offsetting reductions and fixed costs in various accounts
Within
this category are a number of one-time events, which are added or
removed as the events require. Notably in the FY 2009 and FY 2010 is
the removal of the costs for the presidential inaugural. Other savings
are identified through reduced operational costs from energy-efficient
retro-fitting and the demolition of structures beyond repair.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Otherwise known as "stimulus funds", the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides funds to restore and preserve major infrastructures within the national parks.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, is a $475.0 million proposal included in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
budget. The park service will participate through the EPA in
restoration activities in those parks that are within the watershed of
the Great Lakes.
Activities will include such actions as removal of dumps and fuel
spills. Park will monitor mercury, lead, DDT, and other contaminants in
six parks on the Great Lakes.
Work also includes the removal of invasive species and education on
how to prevent their spread. There are YouTube videos about the work
being done in this field.
Mandatory spending
Mandatory appropriations are those items created by other congressional legislation that must be paid for. They include the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program, which requires the distribution and expenditure of fees collected by the National Park Service. Other Permanent Appropriations
includes special funding categories to non-profit and state entities,
which have been assigned to the National Park Service to manage. Miscellaneous Trust Funds
includes funding sources that have been created by the federal
government or private citizen, where the National Park Service or a
specific park have been identified as the beneficiaries. And there is
also the L&WCF Contract Authority which is the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a congressionally created source of revenues, managed by the National Park Service.
Employees and volunteers
Annually,
the NPS employs over 12,000 Americans with an additional 221,000
Volunteers-In-Parks who contribute about 6.4 million hours annually.
Economic benefits
The
National Park Service affects economies at national, state, and local
levels. According to a 2011 Michigan State University report prepared
for the NPS, for each $1 invested in the NPS, the American public
receives $4 in economic value. In 2011, national parks generated $30.1
billion in economic activity and 252,000 jobs nationwide. Thirteen
billion of that amount went directly into communities within 60 miles of
a NPS unit. In a study conducted in 2017, the National Park Service
found that 331 million park visitors spent $18.2 billion in local areas
around National Parks across the nation. This spending helped support
306,000 jobs. The NPS expenditures supported $297 million in economic
output in Missouri alone.
Nomenclature
The National Park Service uses over 20 different titles for the park units it manages, including national park and national monument
.
| Classification as of 2009 | Number | Area | Visitors |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Military Park (9), National Battlefield Park (4), National Battlefield Site (1), and National Battlefield (11) | 25 | 71,502.49 acres (289 km2) | 8,360,261 |
| National Historical Park (57), National Historic Site (76), and International Historic Site (1) | 130 | 228,260.60 acres (924 km2) | 34,407,217 |
| National Lakeshore | 3 | 228,995.14 acres (927 km2) | 3,728,821 |
| National Memorial | 30 | 10,588.45 acres (43 km2) | 30,559,258 |
| National Monument | 83 | 2,027,864.58 acres (8,206 km2) | 22,646,428 |
| National Park | 62 | 52,095,045.71 acres (210,821 km2) | 62,950,968 |
| National Parkway | 4 | 177,339.69 acres (718 km2) | 29,948,911 |
| National Preserve (19) and National Reserve (2) | 21 | 24,191,311.63 acres (97,899 km2) | 2,956,325 |
| National Recreation Area | 18 | 3,700,277.20 acres (14,974 km2) | 50,645,414 |
| National River (5) and National Wild and Scenic River and Riverway (10) | 15 | 746,262.99 acres (3,020 km2) | 5,999,161 |
| National Scenic Trail | 3 | 239,659.27 acres (970 km2) | not available |
| National Seashore | 10 | 595,013.55 acres (2,408 km2) | 17,920,507 |
| Other Designations | 11 | 36,826.96 acres (149 km2) | 11,156,670 |
| Totals | 419 | 84,331,948.26 acres (341,279 km2) | 320,309,151 |
National parks preserve nationally and globally significant scenic areas and nature reserves.
National monuments preserve a single unique cultural or natural feature. Devils Tower National Monument was the first in 1906.
National historic sites protect a significant cultural resource that is not a complicated site. Examples of these types of parks include Ford's Theatre National Historic Site and William Howard Taft National Historic Site.
National historical parks are larger areas with more complex subjects. Appomattox Court House National Historical Park was created in 1940. George Rogers Clark National Historical Park was dedicated in 1936. Historic sites may also be protected in national parks, monuments, seashores, and lakeshores.
National military parks, battlefield parks, battlefield sites, and battlefields
preserve areas associated with military history. The different
designations reflect the complexity of the event and the site. Many of
the sites preserve important Revolutionary War battles and Civil War
battlefields. Military parks are the sites of larger actions, such as Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Vicksburg National Military Park, Gettysburg National Military Park, and Shiloh National Military Park—the original four from 1890. Examples of battlefield parks, battlefield sites, and national battlefields include Richmond National Battlefield Park, Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site, and Antietam National Battlefield.
National seashores and national lakeshores offer preservation of the national coast line, while supporting water–based recreation. Cape Hatteras National Seashore was created in 1937. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, created in 1966, were the first national lakeshores.
National rivers and wild and scenic riverways
protect free-flowing streams over their length. The riverways may not
be altered with dams, channelization, or other changes. Recreational
pursuits are encouraged along the waterways. Ozark National Scenic Riverways was established in 1964.
National recreation areas originally were units (such as Lake Mead National Recreation Area)
surrounding reservoirs impounded by dams built by other federal
agencies. Many of these areas are managed under cooperative agreement
with the National Park Service. Now some national recreation areas are
in urban centers, because of the recommendations of a presidential
commission, the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission (ORRRC).
These include Gateway National Recreation Area and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which encompass significant cultural as well as natural resources.
The National Trails System preserves long-distance routes across America. The system was created in 1968 and consists of two major components: National scenic trails are long-distance trails through some of the most scenic parts of the country. They received official protection in 1968. The Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail are the best known. National historic trails commemorate the routes of major historic events. Some of the best known are the Trail of Tears, the Mormon Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail. These trails are administered by several federal agencies.
National preserves are for the protection of certain resources. Activities like hunting, fishing, and some mining are allowed. Big Cypress National Preserve and Big Thicket National Preserve were created in 1974 as the first national preserves.
National reserves are similar to national preserves, but the operational authority can be placed with a local government. New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve was the first to be established in 1978.[29]
Visitors
The National Park System receives over 280 million visits each year throughout the 419 units,[30] with over 307 million visitors in 2015. Park visitation (recreational only) grew 64 percent between 1979 and 2015.
The 10 most-visited units of the National Park System handle over
28 percent of the visits to the 419 park units. The top 10 percent of
parks (41) handle 62.8 percent of all visits, leaving the remaining 372
units to accommodate 37.2 percent of visits.
| Park | Rank | Visits |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Parkway | 1 | 15,054,603 |
| Golden Gate National Recreation Area | 2 | 14,888,537 |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 3 | 10,712,674 |
| Lincoln Memorial | 4 | 7,941,771 |
| Lake Mead National Recreation Area | 5 | 7,298,465 |
| George Washington Memorial Parkway | 6 | 7,286,463 |
| Gateway National Recreation Area | 7 | 6,392,565 |
| Natchez Trace Parkway | 8 | 5,785,812 |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial | 9 | 5,597,077 |
| Grand Canyon National Park | 10 | 5,520,736 |
Overnight stays
Over 15 million visitors spent a night in one of the national park units
during 2015. The largest number (3.68 million) were tent campers. The
second largest group (3.38 million) stayed in one of the lodges,
followed by Miscellaneous stays (on boats, group sites—2.15 million).
The last three groups of over-night visitors included RV Campers (2.26
million), Backcountry campers (2.02 million) and users of the Concession
run campgrounds (1.42 million). Previous years of statistics are below.
| Park | 2010 Rank | 1994 Rank | 1979 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodges |
1
|
2
|
3
|
| Tent campers |
2
|
1
|
2
|
| Misc |
3
|
3
|
5
|
| RV campers |
4
|
4
|
1
|
| Backcountry |
5
|
5
|
4
|
| Concession campers |
6
|
6
|
6
|
Annually, visitors are surveyed for their satisfaction with services and facilities provided.
Services
Consistently, the highest ranked service has been Assistance from Park Employees (82% very good, 2007).
Facilities
Among facilities, the park Visitor Centers obtain a consistent 70% very good rating (73% in 2007).
Youth programs
The National Park Service offers a variety of youth oriented programs. They range from the Web Ranger on-line program to many programs in each National Park Unit. The primary work opportunities for youth are through the Youth Corp networks.
The oldest serving group is the Student Conservation Association
(SCA). It was established in 1957, committed to conservation and
preservation. The SCA's goal is to create the next generation of
conservation leaders. SCA volunteers work through internships,
conservation jobs, and crew experiences. Volunteers conduct resource
management, historic preservation, cultural resources and conservation
programs to gain experience, which can lead to career development and
further educational opportunities. The SCA places volunteers in more
than 350 national park units and NPS offices each year.
The Corps Network, formerly known as the National Association for
Service and Corps (NASCC), represents 136 Service and Conservation
Corps. These groups have programs in 42 states and the District of
Columbia. Corpsmembers are between the ages of 16–25. Service and
Conservation Corps are direct descendants of the Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC) of the 1930s that built park facilities in the national parks and
other public parks around the country. The Corps Network was
established in 1985.
- Youth Conservation Corps (ages 15–18)
- The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), bring young people into a park to restore, preserve and protect a natural, cultural, or historical resources. Enrollees are paid for their work.
- Public Land Corps (ages 16–25)
- The Public Land Corps (PLC) is a job helping to restore, protect, and rehabilitate a local national parks. The enrollees learn about environmental issues and the park. A dozen non-profit.
- Programs for Boy Scouts (ages 7–18)
- The National Park Service works with the Boy Scouts of America. Members can become a scout ranger and earn a patch. The service formerly participated every four years at the BSA Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. Many scouts have completed their eagle projects in a National Park helping preserve the resources, while furthering the scouting experience.
- Programs for Girl Scouts (ages 5–18)
- Girl Scouts can become a Girl Scout ranger and earn a patch. The National Park Service works with Girl Scout troops through their Linking Girls to the Land.
Accessibility
- Access Pass
The Access Pass
offers free, lifetime admission to federal areas of the National Park
Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Tennessee Valley
Authority.
- Service Animals
Service animals are allowed in all facilities and on most trails,
with the exceptions of stock trails and areas closed by the
superintendent to protect park resources. Service animals must always be
leashed. Service animals in training and pets are subject to other park
regulations. When traveling with an animal, carry water, and allow for
stops. Dispose of pet feces in a trash bin.
- Camping
The National Park System offers numerous accessible camping
opportunities. In over 120 units, campgrounds have sites specifically
designed for tent camper accessibility. Special camp sites are located
near restrooms with paved walkways to and from the restroom and water
sources. Sites have hardened tenting sites that provide for easy access,
but allow for tents to be erected on soil. Many additional units have
pull-through trailer sites, providing for motorized use, but may have
limited access to the rest of the campground facilities.
- Trails
Many national park units have fully accessible trails. Visitors
should check the park's web-site to insure that the trail is designed to
meet their individual needs. Trails may have a compacted gravel
surface, paved with asphalt, or a board walk. Many will have guardrails,
others may have a ridge along the edge, detectable by the visually
impaired using a cane and capable of stopping a wheelchair. Many have no
detectable edge when there is a stable surface.
- Vistas
Parks that are known for their scenic vistas make them available
through a variety of designs. Paved overlooks with accessible parking is
the most common, and not always identified in written material. Road
designs are configured to provide for mountain and landscape vistas from
a vehicle.
Additional information at "The Disabled Traveler's Companion".
Controversy Regarding Accessibility
On October 24, 2017, Secretary of the Interior Zinke proposed
large fee hikes at seventeen of the most visited national parks in order
to address a backlog of maintenance at all national parks.
The National Park Service felt that these changes, which would increase
entrance fees from $25 to $75, were appropriate because they only
targeted the most popular parks, which already have entrance fees.
However, there was a nearly unanimous public backlash against this
proposal; many families felt this would prohibit them from being able to
visit the parks.
Further, there was concern that this hike would disproportionately
affect low-income families, who are already underrepresented in
visitation to national parks.
Additionally, many organizations working to increase access to nature
for families of color, such as Latino Outdoors and African American
Nature and Parks Experience, spoke out against these proposed fee hikes.
Altogether, more than 110,000 comments were posted on the National Park
Service website, with 98% of them protesting this change. Representative Raul Grijalva commented, “This is a prime example that activism works.”
In response to this strong public reaction, on April 12, 2018,
Secretary Zinke released a statement replacing this plan with a more
moderate proposal to raise prices incrementally across all parks with
entrance fees.
Concessions
In
an effort to increase visitation and allow for a larger audience to
enjoy national park land, the National Park Service has numerous concession contracts with private businesses to bring recreation, resorts and other compatible amenities to their parks. NPS lodging opportunities exist at places such as the Wawona Hotel in Yosemite National Park and the Fort Baker Retreat and Conference Center in Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Adaptive reuses
like those at Fort Baker, have raised some controversy from concerns
about the historical integrity of these buildings, after extensive
renovations and whether such alterations fall within the spirit and/or
the letter of the preservation laws they are protected by.
- Delaware North Corporation at Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park, South Rim Grand Canyon National Park.
- Forever Resorts at Big Bend National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Badlands National Park, North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Olympic National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Mammoth Cave National Park, Isle Royale National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Xanterra Parks & Resorts at Bryce Canyon National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Death Valley National Park, South Rim Grand Canyon National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Painted Desert at Petrified Forest National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Zion National Park.
Litigation with Delaware North
In 2015, Delaware North sued the NPS in the United States Court of Claims
for breach of contract, alleging that the NPS had undervalued its
trademarks of the names of iconic Yosemite National Park concession
facilities.
When it offered for bid the contract to operate these facilities, the
National Park Service estimated the value of the intangible assets
including the names "Ahwahnee", "Badger Pass", "Curry Village", and
"Yosemite Lodge" at $3.5 million. Delaware North lost the contract, and
asserted that the historic names were worth $51 million and maintained
that the incoming concessioner had to be paid that amount.
The Justice Department and the NPS asserted that this was an "improper
and wildly inflated" value. Rather than pay Delaware North's demanded
valuation, in January 2016 the NPS instead opted to rename the famous
landmarks, effective in March. The Ahwahnee Hotel
is slated to become The Majestic Yosemite Hotel, Curry Village will
become Half Dome Village, and the Wawona Hotel will become Big Trees
Lodge. Widespread public outcry focused on Delaware North's decision to claim ownership of names within a national park. The names were restored in 2019 upon settlement of the dispute.
Bookstores
At many Park Service sites a bookstore is operated by a non-profit cooperating association. The largest example is Eastern National, which runs bookstores in 30 states with 178 stores.
Park specific:
- Crater Lake Natural History Association
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association
- Devils Tower Natural History Association Bookstore
- Kennesaw Mountain Historical Association
- Oregon Caves Natural History Association
- Yellowstone Association
- Yosemite Conservancy
Offices
Depicts
twelve figures, most in NPS uniforms, shown in occupations from left to
right: a lifeguard, a Civil War reenactor, fire management, mounted
patrol, researcher and/or natural resources with fish, a female ranger
with two visitors, a laborer, a climber/rescuer, and a youth with a male
ranger.
Headquarters are located in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in Anchorage, Atlanta, Lakewood, CO (Denver), Omaha, NE, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle. The headquarters building of the National Park Service Southwest Regional Office is architecturally significant and is designated a National Historic Landmark.
The National Park Service is a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The director is nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
The director is supported by six senior executives. They manage
national programs, policy, and budget from the Washington, DC,
headquarters. Under the deputy director of operations are seven regional
directors, who are responsible for national park management and program
implementation. Together this group is called the National Leadership Council.
The national office is located in the Main Interior Building, 1849 C Street NW, several blocks southwest of the White House.
The central office is composed of eleven directorates: director/deputy
directors; business services; workforce management; chief information
officer; cultural resources; natural resource stewardship and science;
office of the comptroller; park planning, facilities and lands;
partnerships and visitor experience; visitor and resource protection;
and the United States Park Police.
Staff and volunteers
Employees
By
the mid-1950s, the primary employees of the service were the park
rangers, who had broad responsibilities on the parks' behalf. They
cleaned up trash, operated heavy equipment, fought fires, managed
traffic, cleared trails and roads, provided information to visitors,
managed museums, performed rescues, flew aircraft, and investigated
crime.
The National Park Service employs many kinds of workers, as shown below.
- National Park Service Ranger
- Interpreter
- Law enforcement
- Park management (Superintendent/Deputy)
- United States Park Police
- Emergency management (Emergency medical providers, search and rescue specialists)
- Dispatchers
- Maintenance (including carpenters, plumbers, masons, laborers, auto mechanics, motor vehicle operators, heavy equipment operators, electricians)
- Park planning
- Resource management (including archeologist, biologist, botanist, aquatics, soil scientist, geologist)
- History (curators, historians, preservation technicians, historic architects, archivists)
- Fire management (managers, weather specialist, firefighters, engine captains, crew superintendents, battalion chiefs)
- Public Affairs
- Administration (human resources, finance, accountants, information technology, budgeting, concessions management)
.JPG)
National Park Service employment levels. Executives: abt 27; Gen Sch: 16–17,000; Others: 6–7,000
Locations are varied. Parks exist in the nation's larger cities like New York City (Federal Hall Memorial National Historic Site), Atlanta (Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site), and San Diego (Cabrillo National Monument) to some of the remotest areas of the continent like Hovenweep National Monument in southeastern Utah, to Aniakchak National Monument in King Salmon, Alaska.
Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP)
The Volunteers-In-Parks program was authorized in 1969 by the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969.
for the purpose of allowing the public to serve in the nations parks
providing support and skills for their enhancement and protection.
Volunteers come from all walks of life and include professionals,
artists, laborers, homemakers and students, performing varied duties.
Many come from surrounding communities and some travel significant
distances. In a 2005 annual report, the National Park Service reported that,
...137,000 VIPs contributed 5.2 million hours of service (or 2500 FTEs) valued at $91,260,000 based on the private sector value figure of $17.55 as used by AARP, Points of Light Foundation, and other large-scale volunteer programs including many federal agencies. There are 365 separate volunteer programs throughout the National Park Service. Since 1990, the number of volunteers has increased an average of 2% per year.
FTE stands for full-time equivalent (one work year). In 2012, the
National Park Service reported that over 221,000 volunteers contributed
about 6.4 million hours annually.
Additionally, other types of volunteers also conduct offsite NPS
public outreach and education, such as the Trails & Rails program
guides on board certain segments of long-haul Amtrak routes, who offer passengers insights to the travel area's natural resources and heritage.
- Artist-In-Residence
Across the nation, there are special opportunities for artists
(visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers,
composers, and crafts) to live and work in a park. Twenty-nine parks
currently participate in the Artist-In-Residence program.
Law Enforcement Rangers
National Park Service patrol boat at Rock Harbor, Isle Royale National Park
The National Park Service commonly refers to law enforcement operations in the agency as visitor and resource protection.
There are several different types of law enforcement employees
including type I (permanent) and type II (seasonal) law enforcement
rangers and special agents. The United States Park Police
is a unit of the National Park Service, with jurisdiction in all
National Park Service areas and certain other federal and state lands.
Most law enforcement rangers, park police officers, and special agents
receive their training through Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
(FLETC). Type II law enforcement rangers receive their training through
FLETC-accredited Seasonal Law Enforcement Academies.
Jurisdiction
There
are several types of National Park Service jurisdiction. Jurisdiction
is set by the enabling legislation for each individual unit of the NPS
and is considered part of the Special Maritime and Territorial
Jurisdiction of the United States. Law enforcement on NPS lands with
exclusive jurisdiction is solely conducted by NPS Law Enforcement
Rangers (field officers) or the US Park Police. Many NPS units have
concurrent jurisdiction and share law enforcement authority with their
state and/or local county law enforcement agencies. Some National Park
Service units have proprietary or partial jurisdiction where law
enforcement authority for certain serious incidents lies with the state
or county.
Most NPS units have memorandums of understanding with outside law
enforcement agencies, so that policies are in place when and if outside
agency assistance is needed.
NPS Photo of Badge worn by Chief Park Rangers
Law enforcement rangers
Uniformed
law enforcement rangers, park police officers and special agents
enforce federal laws and regulations governing NPS lands and resources.
These personnel can also enforce some or all state laws on NPS lands.
As part of that mission, LEOs carry firearms and defensive equipment,
make arrests, execute search warrants, complete reports and testify in
court. They establish a regular and recurring presence on a vast amount
of public lands, roads, and recreation sites. The primary focus of their
jobs is the protection of natural resources, protection of NPS
employees and the protection of visitors.
To cover the vast and varied terrain under their jurisdiction, NPS
employees use numerous types of vehicles, horses, aircraft, UTVs, ATVs,
snowmobiles, dirt bikes and boats.
Special agents
Special
agents are criminal investigators who plan and conduct investigations
as part of the Investigative Services Branch (ISB) concerning possible
violations of criminal and administrative provisions of the NPS and
other statues under the United States Code and/or Code of Federal
Regulations. Special agents can be uniformed or plain clothes officers.
Special agents often carry concealed firearms, and other defensive
equipment, make arrests, carry out complex criminal investigations,
present cases for prosecution to U.S. attorneys, and prepare
investigative reports. Field agents travel a great deal and typically
cover several NPS units and several states. Criminal investigators
occasionally conduct internal and civil claim investigations.
Laws enforced
Generally speaking the laws enforced on NPS lands are covered in Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations. The NPS also enforces United States Code. Title 16 of the United States Code, Title 18 of the United States Code and Title 21 of the United States Code
are enforced most commonly. The National Park Service generally also
has the authority to enforce any state law not covered already by
federal laws under the Assimilative Crimes Act,
18 U.S.C. § 13. However, by policy the National Park Service cannot
charge violators with a state offense that has a harsher penalty than an
equivalent federal law already on the books. Commissioned National Park
Service employees must follow all policies outlined in DOI reference
manuals and directors orders in performance of their duties.
Badge worn by USPP Officers
United States Park Police
The United States Park Police (USPP) is the oldest uniformed federal
law enforcement agency in the United States. It functions as a full
service law enforcement agency with responsibilities and jurisdiction in
those National Park Service areas primarily located in the Washington,
D.C., San Francisco, and New York City areas. In addition to performing
the normal crime prevention, investigation, and apprehension functions
of an urban police force, the park police are responsible for policing
many of the famous monuments in the United States and share law
enforcement jurisdiction in all lands administered by the service with a
force of national park rangers tasked with the same law enforcement
powers and responsibilities.
Special divisions
Historic Preservation Training Center
Other special NPS divisions include the Archeology Program, Historic American Buildings Survey, National Register of Historic Places, National Natural Landmarks, the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, the Challenge Cost Share Program, the Federal Lands to Parks, the Hydropower Relicensing Program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the National Trails System, the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers Program, and the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division.
- Centers
The National Park Service operates four archeology-related centers:
Harpers Ferry Center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, the Midwest
Archeological Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Southeast Archeological
Center in Tallahassee, Florida and the Western Archeological and
Conservation Center in Tucson, Arizona. The Harpers Ferry Center
specializes in interpretive media development and object conservation.
The other three focus to various degrees on archaeological research and
museum object curation and conservation.
National Park Service training centers
include: Horace Albright Training Center, Grand Canyon; Stephen Mather
Training Center, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; Historic Preservation
Training Center, Frederick, Maryland and Capital Training Center,
Washington, D.C.
The Submerged Resources Center is the unit responsible for inventory and evaluation of submerged resources throughout the National Park system. The SRC is based out of the Intermountain Region's headquarters in Lakewood, Colorado.
The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training,
located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, conducts research and training in
the fields of archeology, architecture, landscape architecture and
materials conservation.
- Preservation programs (HABS/HAER)
Photograph of El Santuario Del Señor Esquipula, Chimayo, New Mexico
LaSalle Street Bridge, Chicago, Illinois
The oldest federal preservation program, the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record
(HABS/HAER), produces graphic and written documentation of historically
significant architectural, engineering and industrial sites and
structures. Dating from 1934, the Historic American Buildings Survey
(HABS) was chartered to document historic architecture—primarily houses
and public buildings—of national or regional significance. Originally a
New Deal
employment/preservation program, after World War II, HABS employed
summer teams of advanced undergraduate and graduate students to carry
out the documentation, a tradition followed to this day. Many of the
structures they documented no longer exist.
HABS/HAER produces measured drawings, large-format photographs
and written histories of historic sites, structures and objects, that
are significant to the architectural, engineering and industrial
heritage of the U.S. Its 25,000 records are part of the Library of
Congress. HABS/HAER is administered by the NPS Washington office and
five regional offices.
Historic American Buildings Survey
In 1933, the
National Park Service, Department of the Interior, established the
Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), based on a proposal by
Charles E. Peterson, Park Service landscape architect. It was founded as
a make-work program for architects, draftsmen and photographers left
jobless by the Great Depression. Guided by field instructions from
Washington, D.C., the first recorders were tasked with documenting a
representative sampling of America's architectural heritage. After 70
years, there is now an archive of historic architecture. HABS provided a
database of primary source material for the then fledgling historic
preservation movement.
Historic American Engineering Record
Recognizing a
similar fragility in our national industrial and engineering heritage,
the National Park Service, the Library of Congress and the American
Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) formed the HAER program in 1969, to
document nationally and regionally significant engineering and
industrial sites. A short while later, HAER was ratified by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the American Institute of Chemical Engineers
(AIChE) and the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and
Petroleum Engineers (AIME). HAER documentation, in the forms of measured
and interpretive drawings, large-format photographs and written
histories, is archivally preserved in the Prints and Photographs
Division of the Library of Congress, where it is readily available to
the public.
Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program
The RTCA
program of the National Park Service is designed to assist local
communities and the public in preservation of rivers, trails and
greenways. Unlike the mainline National Park Programs, these programs
take place on non-federal property at the request of the local
community. One of their better known programs is Rails to Trails, where unused railroad right-of-ways are converted into public hiking and biking trails.
- National Trails System
The National Trails System is a joint mission of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. It was created in 1968 to establish a system of long-distance National Scenic and National Historic Trails, as well as to recognize existing trails in the states as National Recreation Trails. Several additional trails have been established since 1968, and in 2009 Congress established the first National Geologic Trail.
- National Heritage Areas
National Heritage Areas
are a unique blend of natural, cultural, historic, and scenic
resources. Having developed out of a shared historic, they create a
unique whole. Currently (2015) there are 49 designated heritage areas.
International affairs
- World Heritage Sites
World Heritage Sites
have enough universally recognized natural and cultural features that
they are considered to merit the protection of all the peoples in the
world. The National Park Service is responsible for 16 of the 24 World Heritage Sites in the United States.
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico
- Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
- Everglades National Park, Florida
- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina
- Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
- Independence Hall, Pennsylvania
- Kluane/Wrangell-St. Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, Alaska, U.S./ B.C. & Yukon, Canada
- Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
- Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
- Olympic National Park, Washington
- Redwood National and State Parks, California
- Statue of Liberty, New York
- Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (union of Waterton Lakes (Canada) and Glacier (U.S.) parks), Montana & Alberta, Canada
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, extending into Montana and Idaho
- Yosemite National Park, California
Initiatives
"The national parks preserve all life," poster for National Park Service, 1940
- 24-hr all Taxa BioBlitz: A joint venture of the National Geographic Society and the National Park Service. Beginning in 2004, at Rock Creek Parkway,
the National Geographic Society and the National Park Service began a
10-year program of hosting a major biological survey of ten selected
national park units. The intent is to develop public interest in the
nations natural resources, develop scientific interest in America's
youth and to create citizen scientist.
- 2007: Rock Creek Park, Washington D.C. 661 species
- 2008: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Los Angeles, California. 1,700 species and more pending.
- 2009: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, near Chicago in northern Indiana. 1,716 species and still counting.
- 2010: Biscayne National Park, Miami, Florida. 810 species were identified during this 24-hr event. As classification continues, more species will be added to the list.
- 2011: Saguaro National Park, Tucson, Arizona. During the 24-hours, 859 different species were identified, of which more than 400 were previously unknown in the park.
- 2012: Rocky Mountain National Park, in Estes Park, In August 2012 489 species were identified.
- 2013: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, in New Orleans. The BioBlitz will occur on May 17 and 18, 2013 in the park's Barataria Preserve.
- Biological Diversity: Biological Diversity is the vast variety of life as identified through species and genetics. This variety is decreasing as people spread across the globe, altering areas to better meet their needs.
- Climate Change: Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global sea levels. (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007).
- South Florida Restoration Initiative: Rescuing an Ecosystem in Peril: In partnership with the State of Florida, and the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service is restoring the physical and biological processes of the South Florida ecosystem. Historically, this ecosystem contained some of the most diverse habitats on earth.
- Vanishing Treasures Initiative: Ruins Preservation in the American Southwest: The Vanishing Treasures Initiative began in FY 1998 to reduce threats to prehistoric and historic sites and structures in 44 parks of the Intermountain Region. In 2002, the program expanded to include three parks in the Pacific West Region. The goal is to reduce backlogged work and to bring sites and structures up to a condition where routine maintenance activities can preserve them.
- Wetlands: Wetlands includes marshes, swamps, and bogs. These areas and the plants and animals adapted to these conditions spread from the arctic to the equator. The shrinking wetlands provide habitat for fish and wildlife, help clean water and reduce the impact of storms and floods on the surrounding communities.
- Wildland Fire: Fires have been a natural part of park eco-systems. Many plants and some animals require a cycle of fire or flooding to be successful and productive. With the advent of human intervention and public access to parks, there are safety concerns for the visiting public.
Green Park Plan
In September 2010, the NPS released its Climate Change Response Strategy, followed in April 2012 by the Green Parks Plan.
Climate Friendly Parks Program
The Climate Friendly Parks Program is a subset of the Green Parks Plan. It was created in collaboration between the National Park Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The program is meant to measure and reduce greenhouse gases to help
slow the effects of climate change. Parks in the CFP program create and
implement plans to reduce greenhouse gases through reducing energy and
water use. Facilities are designed and retrofitted using sustainable
materials. Alternative transportation systems are developed to reduce
dependency on fossil fuels.
Parks in the program offer public education programs about how the
parks are already affected. The program provides climate-friendly
solutions to the visiting public, like using clean energy, reducing
waste, and making smart transportation choices.
The CFP program can provide technical assistance, tools and resources
for the parks and their neighboring communities to protect the natural
and cultural resources.
The large, isolated parks typically generate their own
electricity and heat and must do so without spoiling the values that the
visitors have come to experience. Pollution is emitted by the vehicles
used to transport visitors around the often-vast expanses of the parks.
Many parks have converted vehicles to electric hybrids, and substitute diesel/electric hybrid buses for private automobiles. In 2001 it was estimated that replacement with electric vehicles would eliminate 25 TPY emissions entirely.
In 2010, the National Park Service estimated that reducing
bottled water could eliminate 6,000 tons of carbon emissions and 8
million kilowatt-hours of electricity every year. The NPS Concessions
office voiced concerns about concessions impacts.
By 2014, 23 parks had banned disposable water bottles.
In 2015, the International Bottled Water Association stated the NPS was
"leaving sugary drinks as a primary alternative", even though the Park
Service provides water stations to refill bottles, "encouraging visitors
to hydrate for free." The Water Association made the national parks one
of its top lobbying targets and in July 2015 Rep. Keith Rothfus
added a "last-minute" amendment into Congress's appropriations bill,
blocking the National Park Service from funding or enforcing the
program. The National Park Service discontinued its ban on disposable water bottles in August 2017.
