"The Future of America's National Parks"

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne's Centennial Initiative Report
to the President

# May 31, 2007

> "Dear Mr. President,
>
> Inspired by the passions of thousands of citizens and mindful that
> boldness matches our history, today I bring you our vision to ensure
> that the American love affair with national parks endures."
>
> -- Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne

Last August, President Bush charged Secretary Kempthorne with reporting,
by May 31, 2007, on specific performance goals to be achieved so our
parks enjoy "another century of conservation, preservation, and
enjoyment".

*The Future of America's National Parks* builds upon President Bush's
National Park Centennial Initiative in the FY 2008 budget to enhance
park operations and to increase significantly the experiences available
to park visitors with the addition of 3,000 new seasonal rangers. The
report outlines 5 overarching goals to guide the National Park Service
as it prepares for its centennial anniversary in 2016. Each goal is
accompanied by broad objectives, supported by specific performance
goals, and potential actions and examples.

The report reflects the voices of the American public, heard in
listening sessions across the country earlier this year at more than 40
different locations, with over 6,000 comments received.

-   **The five overarching goals and associated performance goals:**

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-   *Stewardship. The National Park Service leads America and the world
    in preserving and restoring treasured resources.*

    -   Rehabilitate historic buildings; Restore native habitats;
        Improve high priority assets to acceptable condition; Improve
        the natural resources in parks; Complete all cultural resource
        inventories.

-   *Environmental Leadership. The National Park Service demonstrates
    environmental leadership to the nation.*

    -   Establish programs to showcase exemplary environmental
        practices; Increased use of alternative energy and fuels; Reduce
        the environmental impact of parks on air and water quality;
        Ensure every new park facility receives at least a silver rating
        equivalent under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental
        Design standards.

-   *Recreational Experience. National parks are superior recreational
    destinations where visitors have fun, explore nature and history,
    find inspiration, and improve health and wellness.*

    -   Increase annual volunteer hours by 100%; Increase visitation at
        lesser known parks by 25%; Rehabilitate over 2,000 miles of
        trails; Increase the number of visitors that attend
        ranger-facilitated programs.

-   *Education. The National Park Service fosters exceptional learning
    opportunities that connect people to parks.*

    -   Increase visitor satisfaction, understanding and appreciation;
        Enroll an additional 2 million children in the junior ranger
        program; Increase the number of web hits through advanced,
        interactive features.

-   *Professional Excellence. The National Park Service demonstrates
    management excellence worthy of the treasures entrusted to our
    care.*

    -   Meet 100% of diversity recruitment goals; Attain the highest
        employee satisfaction rate of all federal agencies; Establish a
        structured professional development curriculum; Improve
        communications and marketing capacity to increase public
        awareness; Reduce the number of employee lost-time and serious
        visitor injuries by 20%.

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-   **Potential Actions and Examples:**

    -   *National Mall and Memorial Parks:* Demonstrate the very best in
        urban park design, maintenance and visitor services.

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    -   *Richmond National Battlefield Park and the Glorieta Battlefield
        at Pecos National Historical Park:* Protect battlefields from
        encroachment by acquiring high-priority lands.

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    -   *Pearl Harbor visitor center at the USS Arizona Memorial:*
        Demonstrate the highest standards of energy efficient design in
        completion of new facilities to serve visitors and enhance
        understanding of the war in the Pacific.

    -   *Urban parks:* Use urban parks as portals to encourage children
        and their families to discover all national parks, based on
        successful models at Gateway National Recreation Area and Golden
        Gate National Recreation Area.

    -   *The Internet:* Work with educators to develop online curricula
        that teachers can use in classrooms and field trips to parks.

    -   *Education and outreach:* Establish 10 learning centers at parks
        near major population centers to serve students and their
        communities.

    -   *Professional Development:* Provide comprehensive,
        mission-oriented training within an employee's first two years
        of service.

For more information, go to [www.nps.gov/2016](http://www.nps.gov/2016).