Greater Washington National Parks Fund

Greater Washington National Parks Fund: FY 2004 Status
National Capital Region, National Park Service
March 1, 2004

Goals of the Greater Washington National Parks Fund:

The Greater Washington National Parks Fund initiative is designed to ensure that the National Parks in the National Capital Region are more prominent and relevant to the diverse communities they serve and to supplement funds appropriated by Congress. Leveraging the efforts undertaken in conjunction with “the messaging project”, the goals of the initiative are to:

* Improve service to the community by developing programs and providing new opportunities to experience the parks.
* Improve communication to the residents of the metropolitan Washington, D.C area including Virginia, Maryland, the District, and West Virginia about the extensive resources that exist under the common bond of the local National Parks and that have a direct impact on their quality of life.
* Educate and motivate the public to help ensure long-term protection of resources under the National Park Service's care.
Improve the public’s awareness of the National Park Service in the region.

Organization

The Greater Washington National Parks Fund is a organization dedicated to providing partnership and support to the parks of the National Capital Region (NCR). The Fund was established by the National Park Foundation, the Congressionally chartered non-profit partner of the National Park Service.

Currently the Assistant Regional Director, Partnerships Office, manages the daily activities of the Fund and serves as liaison between NPF and the National Parks of the National Capital Region. The Assistant Regional Director Director responds to donors and works closely with the parks, and the Fund Council, to ensure that the most critical needs are identified and addressed.

The Park Fund Council is composed of five members confirmed by the Regional Director and adheres to the principles, functions, and organization as defined in its Charter. Their purpose is to represent the needs of parks and program offices within the National Capital Region and to serve as liaison between those parks and offices, NPF, park partner organizations, and potential donors. Park Fund Council members specific responsibilities are to identify and communicate park needs, set priorities, make recommendations to NPF for project grants, and to coordinate fundraising activities of parks and offices with the Fund.

The Park Fund Council members are:
Robert Sutton, Supt. Manassas and Council Chair
Vacant
Mel Poole, Supt. Catoctin
Adrienne Applewhaite-Coleman, Supt. Rock Creek
Joe Lawler, Deputy Regional Director, NPS-NCR

Glenn Eugster, Assistant Regional Director, Partnerships Office, provides staff assistance to the Council and the Fund.

The following is a description of selected activities and accomplishments of the Greater Washington National Parks Fund over the last twelve months.

Donations

Cherry Tree Replacement Fund

The National Cherry Blossom Festival has pledged to help
promote the Cherry Tree Replacement Fund.

The operators of the "Spirit of Washington Cruise" have pledged to
support the Fund. On April 10th, the Spirit of Washington II, docked at Pier 4 and Water streets, SW, will host a dinner cruise for festival visitors, with portions of the ticket price being donated to the NCR Cherry Tree Replacement Fund.

Phillips Seafood Restaurants, located on the DC Waterfront, has
pledged to support the Fund. During the Cherry Blossom Festival Phillips will offer a Cherry Blossom Festival drink at their Maine Ave. location, with portions of the price being donated to the NCR Cherry Tree Replacement Fund.

The following individuals have responded to website information on the Cherry Tree Replacement Fund and made or pledged donations.

Rob DeFeo
Donated $50.00 from speaking honorarium
Erin N Bertocci
Pledged an amount to be determined Feb. 2004
Erika Birg
Pledged $100.00 Feb. 2004
Ira and June Tanaka
Donated $500 Dec. 2003
Matthew Wolfe
Donated $50.00 Feb. 2004

NCR Tree and Shrub Replacement Fund

The Business Improvement District pledged $15,000 to the Fund for Franklin Park
Richard England has pledged to raise funds for tree plantings at Battery Kimble Park in Rock Creek.
The Washington Rotary has pledged $2,000 for plantings in Potomac Park.

Ranger Registry: $340.00 was donated to NPS-NCR park projects through NPF's Ranger Registry website, as of Dec. 2003.

Grants

DC Office of Recycling $10,000 grant in February 2004 to Rock Creek
for Earth Day Recycling event at Carter Barron
NPF $15,000 grant in June 2003 to NCR Trails Forever
NPS and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments $10,000
Grant in August 2003, through the Green Infrastructure Demonstration Project, for NCR Trails Forever.
NPF grant to Antietam $200
NPF grant to Harpers Ferry $200
NPS contributed $100,000 from the Green Infrastructure Demonstration
Project, to help restore the green infrastructure of the Greater Washington National Parks. Funds were used, through the NPS “Tree & Shrub Replacement Endowment Fund” to replace and plant new trees at Central (East Potomac Park, Tidal Basin, Monumental Core), White House (President’s Park, the Ellipse, Layfatte, 1st Division, Pennsylvania Ave.), George Washington Memorial Parkway, Anacostia Park, and Rock Creek. Plantings are scheduled for this fall and next spring.
NPS contributed $5,000 to the Greater Washington National Parks Fund
for messaging to prepare a summary of park activities for public distribution.


Keystone Project

Trails Forever: In Oct. 2003 the NCR superintendents, at the recommendation of the Parks Fund Council, endorsed a proposal for a project called “Hiking, Biking, Riding and Paddling in the Greater Washington National Parks Project”. The goal of the project is: “To attract park visitors to raise greater awareness of the parks as a way to encourage them to use the parks and contribute to their stewardship

Details of the project, which is now being called "Trails Forever: Hiking, Biking Riding and Paddling the Greater Washington National Parks", are being refined. $25,000 in private and NPS funding has been secured and April 23, 2004 has been selected as the date to kick-off the project.

Recently, with the assistance of NPF, Greg Moore, Cathie Barner and Doug Overman of the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy provided technical assistance to NCR on the design of "Trails Forever". Ken Olson, President of the Friends of Acadia will meet with NCR leaders on March 29, 2004 to discuss their trail restoration, fundraising and volunteer efforts.


Messaging & Friends-Raising

Proud Partners: The National Park Foundation held a Proud Partner
Meeting on February 24, 2004 at Arlington House National and a reception at the Women in the Military Memorial. 35 NPF and Proud Partner representatives attended.

In FY 2003 NPS Proud Partners provided NCR with:
A Transportation Interpreter for C & O Canal, Harpers Ferry, Rock Creek
A Transportation Scholar for Wolf Trap
A digital camera for NCR Communications Office and Wolf Trap
A digital imaging product for Harpers Ferry

In FY 2004 Proud Partners will provide NCR with the following products and services.
Ford is donating 2 hybrid Escapes, their mid-range, electric/gas
Sports-Utility-Vehicles, to NCR. C & O is getting one vehicle and the National Mall area is to get another.

The World Premiere of the Greater Washington, DC National Parks
film, prepared by the Discovery Communications, is scheduled for April 19, 2004 at Ford's Theater.

GWNP Fund Maps: Additional boxes of Greater Washington National Park
maps, printed by LL Bean, were provided by NPF to NCR parks and regional office programs.

GWNP Logos/ Icons: The NCR parks and Messaging Team assisted the Supon Design Group to complete logos for 13 parks and the Greater Washington National Parks logo. The Messaging Team and the Parks Fund Council are registering the logos and looking at alternative uses.

Green Infrastructure Forums: NPS-NCR and the Metropolitan Council of Governments held 8 park, open space and recreation area forums that were attended by 420 government and private sector leaders.

Urban Park Repositioning: NPS-NCR and the NPS Partnerships Council are
co-hosting a forum on "Urban Repositioning in Parks, Open Space and Recreation Areas". The forum is scheduled for Monday May 10, 2004 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Washington, DC and will feature NPS and metropolitan DC experts.

Green Infrastructure Conference: In October 2004 NPS, Metropolitan
Washington Council of Governments, Casey Trees, National Capital Planning Commission, and Green Spaces for DC, are holding a region-wide parks, open space and recreation area conference. The conference will bring together 300 leaders from the different spheres of government, politics, business, and nonprofit organizations to recognize the current state of our area's green infrastructure and to adopt an action plan for cooperation in improving it.

Ten Things You Can Do: A brochure is being prepared, for review and
approval by NCR superintendents, that describes Ten Things You Can Do to Help the Greater Washington National Parks. The brochure will help bring attention to NPS parks and programs, fundraising, park partners, and events.


Park and Region Inkind Contributions

GWMP detail Deb Feldman to work on Trails Forever in Aug.-Sept. 2003
GWMP detail Brent O'Neill to work on the Trust for the National Mall in Dec. 2002-Jan. 2003
Communication Office and Sheperd College, WV Annual Report, posters, brochures. Ongoing.
Parks Fund Council feedback and guidance. Ongoing


Park Partners and Fundraising Agreements

Trust for the National Mall: In January a Fundraising Agreement with the Trust for the National Mall was approved by the Director. Phase 1 of the agreement intends to raise $30 million in five years.

Piscataway Park Education Center: In Oct. 2003 the Regional Director approved a Fundraising Agreement with NPS-East and the Accokeek Foundation. The agreement is to raise $ 720,000 to build a new education center.


Pending Park Partners & Fundraising Agreements

Rock Creek Nature Education Center: Preliminary discussions with Rock Creek about a fundraising effort for a tree-walk education project. NPF is likely to provide fundraising assistance.

Antietam Visitor Center: Ongoing discussions with Antietam and private interests about options for fundraising and revenue generation for a new visitor center.

Langston Golf Course: Preliminary discussions with East and Howard University about developing a partnership and a $300,000 fundraising agreement to promote education and provide recreational activities to enhance youth golf at Langston Golf Course.


Technical Assistance

East Coast in-Park Partnership videotapes on partnering, revenue generation, sustainable practices, and fundraising were provided to all parks and program areas.


Contacts

For additional information about the Greater Washington National Parks Fund contact:

• Robert Sutton, Superintendent, Manassas National Battlefield Park and Chairman of the Greater Washington National Parks Fund Parks Council, (703) 754-1861

• Glenn Eugster, Assistant Regional Director, Partnerships Office, National Park Service, National Capital Region, (202) 619-7492