Remarks for the Accokeek Award: J. Glenn Eugster 9-28-08

Remarks for the Accokeek Award: J. Glenn Eugster 9-28-08

Thank you!  It is a great honor to be recognized as part of the 2008 Accokeek Foundation Leadership Salute and to share this occasion with my wife Deborah, daughter Laura, Son-in-Law Jaime, Granddaughters Lila and Adelyn, dear friends, and the Accokeek Foundation “family”.

When I was starting out in the public sector I was armed with a passion for this profession and three excellent college educations.  As time went by my enthusiasm and education was enriched by the experience of working for the National Park Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.   I learned that true leadership is bringing about collaboration and working with people and organizations that share a common goal of protecting precious natural and cultural resources but perhaps offer different perspectives and approaches to achieving the goal.

Over the years that I’ve worked for governments, and in the private sector, I’ve had the good fortune to have talented people help me learn how to become a good leader.  Early in my career I realized that learning how to lead is a life-long pursuit.  In fact the longer that I work the more I realize how much more I need to learn about leadership.

Some of the individuals that assisted me, including my wife Deborah Weatherly from the U.S. Appropriations Committee staff, and Joe DiBello from the National Park Service, Northeast Regional Office, have been long-time advisors who have quietly coached me behind the scenes in an enabling way helping me to take time to listen, learn and work with others to accomplish important goals.  More than telling me what to do and not to do they taught me ways to help people help themselves sustain our parks, ecosystems, special landscapes, historic sites, economies and organizations. They patiently gave me insight on how to decide what causes are important locally or globally, build consensus with various stakeholders, and get things done in a way that is good for people, all living resources, and the economy.

During the late 1970’s while working with the Philadelphia Regional Office of the National Park Service I first heard of the Accokeek Foundation and your stellar work here and around the Potomac River basin.  I watched your work from a distance until the opportunity arose to work with you here at National Colonial Farm with Piscataway Park, and within the Potomac River area.  I know some of you, such as Wilton, Peter, Director Stanton, John, Patricia, Andy and Jim—as well as your outstanding staff--including Helen, more than others.  Through our work with the NPS National Capital and Philadelphia Regions, EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program, and the Potomac American Heritage River Initiative it has been a pleasure and an honor to work side-by-side with you. I have long admired your work and learned a great deal from you.  You have individually and as an organization contributed significantly to my efforts.

Given the longstanding commitment the Accokeek Foundation has had to land stewardship, sustainable use, and interpretation of the natural and cultural resources of the Potomac, I am honored and humbled to receive this award.

I’d like to close by quoting Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment, who once said, “For it is in giving that we receive”.  May you have continued success in your work and lives.  Thank you.

Rooting DC: A Forum for Urban Gardeners

Rooting DC: A Forum for Urban Gardeners

February 2, 2008

Remarks by Glenn Eugster

On behalf of:

DC Urban Gardeners, Washington Parks & People, and the America the Beautiful Fund welcome!

The goals of today’s forum are:

To share resources and foster partnerships between 

groups and individuals who are working toward common goals through gardening.  

To see how your urban garden work fits into the big picture of creating a greener healthier DC!

Early in my career, in 1968, I was introduced to the innovative gardening work of Hubert Owens at the University of Georgia, Paul Bruce Dowling and Nanine Bilski at the the America the Beautiful Fund, Ernesta Ballard and Blaine Bonham at the Pennsylvania Horticulturalist Society.  They were advocating garden clubs, community gardens, urban gardens and the greening of vacant lots in neighborhoods, towns and cities across the U.S.  Watching their work I was reminded of how important urban gardens are to all of us and to our communities.

The other day I was flipping through a copy of Lester Brown’s book “Plan B 3.0 —Mobilizing to Save Civilization” and came across research on community gardens.  People were asked why they garden and they responded this way:

14% said they wanted higher quality produce

17% said they did it for physical health

19% said they did it for mental health

20% said they did it for recreation

In that same book there was reference to the Urban Agriculture Report which asked and answered the question, why is this type of urban gardening so desirable?  The reply was, It has a regenerative effect when vacant lots are transformed from eyesores into bountiful, beautiful, and safe gardens  

They feed people’s bodies and souls.

I’ve been an advocate for green space for a long time and I’ve had the opportunity to work on various projects designed to add value to this movement.  I’d like to mention a few of these to give you my sense of how urban gardening fits into a larger context of what is going on across the US and around the world.

1996 EPA Sustainable Development Challenge Grant Program

Connecting farms to neighborhoods without access to fresh fruit or vegetables.

In 1999 I was assigned to a workgroup with the President’s Council on Sustainable Development’s Metropolitan & Rural Strategies Task Force with Harriett Tregoning, now of DC, and Ruth MacWilliams of the USFS. )

• Green Infrastructure:   Infrastructure is normally a term that describes networks of roads, rapid transit systems, sewers, waterlines, utility lines, and other artificially made physical structures that provide public services.  “Green infrastructure” is the network of open space, airsheds, watersheds, woodlands, wildlife habitat, parks, and other natural areas, which provide many vital services, such as providing nutrients and replenishing soils for agriculture, sustaining human life and biodiversity, providing natural stormwater drainage, providing recreational space, improving the physical attractiveness of an area, and naturally filtering air and water.  To sustain these benefits, many communities are increasingly promoting place-based approaches to conserve, protect, and restore local and regional systems of natural resources and amenities.

--President’s Council on Sustainable Development Definition

Our Nation’s natural life support system – an interconnected network of waterways, wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitats, and other natural areas; greenways, parks and other conservation lands; working farms, ranches, and forests of conservation value; and wilderness and other open spaces that support native species, maintain natural ecological processes, sustain air and water resources and contribute to the health and quality of life for America’s communities and people.

2000 Washington Parks & People forum called “Common Ground” 

With the energy and amazing leadership of Steve Coleman and the team here at Washington Parks & People DC green space advocates decided to act and implement the PCSD national recommendation local.

Attracted 100 leaders; day-long dialogue.  Resulted in support for a national demonstration project to implement a green infrastructure approach through a collaborative, community-led, public and private partnership within the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

A work group developed a proposal called “Green Space for Living” which was funded by the House Interior Appropriations Committee through the National Park Service.  Implemented through a partnership between NPS and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

Two of the anticipated benefits included:

Increase the supply of fresh food within the metro area;

Extend the ecological services and public benefits of green infrastructure into under-served neighborhoods of the DC metropolitan area.

I think these and other public and private efforts have created an opportunity to look at how we regenerate communities and ecologies by looking at green space as a form of infrastructure like roads, water lines, and sewers. 

When we talk about green infrastructure in the Washington [D.C.] area, we talk about everything from window boxes, to Rock Creek Park and in between: it’s urban gardens, residential landscaping, pocket parks, landscaped portions of a development parcel, linear parks, riparian buffers, street trees, parkways, farms and large parks and reserves. 

It’s not something that is nice to have if we can afford it.  Being connected to this type of infrastructure is an essential value and service and a God-given right of every citizen.  It’s a system that we need to support our quality of life.  It’s a system that won’t happen unless we advocate its creation.

As you work together today I hope you listen and learn, and share your experience and knowledge.  I also hope that you also answer these three questions:

Why are urban gardens important?

Why are they important now?

What are you individually, and organizationally, willing to do to advance urban gardens in DC?

I look forward to hearing about your work and listening to your ideas.  Thanks for coming and may you have a very successful day!

NPS Management Policies 2006

8.6.7 Agricultural Uses

specifically authorized by park’s enabling legislation;

they are retained as a right subsequent to NPS land acquisition

they contribute to the maintenance of a cultural landscape

they are carried out as part of a living or interpretive demonstration.

In urban park areas, areas may be designated for community recreational gardening under the same conditions.

Community Gardens

The National Park Service Civil War Defenses of Washington offer two areas for community gardening.

Fort Dupont Community Gardens is located at the corner of Fort Dupont and Fort Davis Drives. Please call 202-426-5961 for information. more...

Fort Stevens Community Gardens is located at 13th Street and Fort Stevens Dr., NW. Please call 202-895-6000 for information.

Possible Alternatives for Alexandria’, VA's Beautification Commission

DRAFT  

Possible Alternatives for Alexandria’s Beautification Commission

November 12, 2009

Prepared by Deborah A. Weatherly and J. Glenn Eugster

“And some things we know.  Association with beauty can enlarge man’s imagination and revive his spirit.  Ugliness can demean the people who live among it.  What a citizen sees every day is his America.  If it is attractive it adds to the quality of his life.  If it is ugly it can degrade his existence”.  Message from President Lyndon Johnson to the U.S. Congress, February 8, 1965.

I. Summary

The following information is intended to spark discussion about the future of Alexandria’s Beautification Commission.  It includes a number of possible alternatives, including:

Research on the intent of the program, 

Revising the mission, 

Cross-cutting public and private partnerships, and, 

Messaging, 

for commission members to consider for the beautification effort in Alexandria, VA.

II. Alternatives 

Commission members could select one or more of these alternatives to consider in greater detail.

1.  Research Mission:  Research the Beautification Commission as a way to better understand the original intent of the effort.  Referenced city reports should be reviewed.  Past City leaders, including former Council Member Patsy Ticer, were involved and could provide valuable insights about past, present and future beautification needs.

Consideration should be given to what the future role of the Commission will be including, possibly, some, or all, of the following activities:

Awards, recognition and endorsement

Neighborhood flower and seed grants to neighborhood associations, public housing communities, and neighborhood gardens.

Two to three key, hands-on beautification projects each year.  Key areas in the city could be identified for assistance by the Commission and other partners.

Technical advisory services from Commission members and other volunteer experts to associations, homeowners, businesses, etc.

Educational materials and workshops for groups and individuals.

Small financial seed grants to help groups help themselves to beautify Alexandria.

2.  Revise Commission Definition: Revise the current definition of the Beautification Committee to make the goal of the group more reflective of the role of the Commission and more relevant to the public we serve.  Two existing definitions are on the City’s website.

The Beautification Commission represents citizens' values in City beautification matters

and coordinates projects to encourage and achieve beautification.

Alexandria Beautification Commission: The Beautification Commission is a twelve-member advisory unit that represents citizens' values in City beautification matters and coordinates projects to encourage and achieve beautification. The Commission sponsors the Alexandria Beautification Commission Awards each year. 

3.  Initiate Cross-Cutting City Strategies:  The Beautification Commission can be more effective if it works in tandem with other city initiatives such as:

Department of Planning and Zoning:  In the April 7, 2009 memo from the Director of Planning and Zoning to the Members of the Planning Commission priorities were outlined for FY 2010 and beyond.  One priority is to: Empower community residents and businesses by identifying improvements and other projects they can do themselves, such as supporting tree planting/care and other beautification projects, implementing the way finding program, through raising money and direct action.

Old Town Business Improvement:  In 2005 the City Manager provided the City Council with a status report on the creation of an Old Town special services district and planning for a Business Improvement District organization.  Two of the proposed organizations responsibilities was to focus on:

“Streetscape maintenance (cleaning and beautification) and Installation and maintenance of street furniture (flower containers, benches, etc.)”.

  

The Environmental Action Plan 2030:  The City’s Plan, adopted by City Council on June 14, 2008, will serve as the road map for city leaders, staff , and citizens to implement the sustainability visions and principles set forth in Alexandria’s Eco-City Charter One initiative in the plan worth exploring is: 

“Build a seamless and holistic network of green infrastructure that maintains and enhances existing assets, creates new amenities, improves connectivity and access among public and private green spaces, and creates a diverse local ecology by harmonizing the built and natural environments“.

The Urban Forestry Master Plan, adopted by the City Council this year, sets several goals and recommendations that overlap with the mission of the Beautification Commission including.

Goal:  “As the largest property owner in the City, owners of industrial, commercial and residential properties should preserve, plant and maintain trees”.

Recommendation: Encourage homeowners and civic associations to create tree or beautification boards with which the City Arborist can communicate and provide information about tree planting and maintenance of this type of property.

Goal:  Expand educational opportunities regarding the urban forest for the citizens of Alexandria.

Recommendation:  Create opportunities for citizens to become program volunteers for projects and program assistance, such as tree planting, small tree public relations.

4.  Cross-Cutting Partnerships: There are a variety of private initiatives that could supplement Alexandria’s beautification efforts including:

Trash Free Community: The Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative of the Alice Ferguson Foundation is a program to reduce trash and increase recycling, education and awareness of trash issues in the watershed.  The effort involves a public-private partnership.  Getting the watershed trash-free will be done step by step, and city block by city block. 

Free Flower and Vegetable Seeds: America the Beautiful Fund is a private organization offering grants of free seeds to community groups striving to better our world through gardening. Seeds are used to grow fresh nutritious food for the hungry; teach children about the wonders of nature in a habitat garden; beautify parks, roadways and neighborhoods. This is a way to promote environmental stewardship in our community. There are a thousand ways to improve Alexandria’s quality of life through gardening! 

5.  Awards Program: The current awards program could be continued or revised slightly to reflect different topical themes (i.e. native plants, flowers, community gardens, champion trees, etc.) each year.

6.  Communications & Messaging: The Commission needs to rethink the way that it communicates with the public it serves in order to move to the Beautification Program to the forefront of our resident’ consciousness when they think of beauty, history, culture and nature -- the myriad elements that contribute to an excellent quality of life.  This top-of-mind consciousness and understanding of the Commission and its work in the city will increase opportunities to build long-term productive relationships with groups, businesses and individuals who live within Alexandria.

III. Background

  

At the February 11, 194 Council Meeting Mayor Mann presented the following outline for a City Beautification Program:

1. Review “Anti-Litter” laws for maximum effectiveness.

2.  Modernize and increase the number of trash receptacles.

3.  Study city trash removal services to determine improvements wherever possible within economic limitations.

4.  Strengthen requirements for maintaining neatness and order in vacant lots and other collectors of trash and debris.

5.  Accelerate and expand City’s tree-planting and landscaping program including provision of more adequate tree lawns in street design.

6.  Request cooperation of the National Capital Region of the National Park Service and other agencies to expand their landscaping program of areas in Alexandria under their control, such as early improvement of Dangerfield Island and Jones Point.

7.  Encourage business community to increase spaces and find new places for flowers and shrubs.

8.  Urge builders and developers to provide maximum of landscapes areas in their plans for new buildings.

9.  Help individual residents in their efforts to improve their own properties.

10.  City to lead the way by planning for beautification of all public properties.

The City Council asked the City Manager to prepare his recommendations for the best practical approach to the overall program to coordinate efforts of the business community and residential community, including suggestions for a Coordinating Committee for a city-beautification program.

On March 24, 1964 the City Manager presented the Council with a report, marked Exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 22; 03/24/64, and participated in a discussion.  A motion was made and was carried unanimously authorizing the City Manager to implement the recommendations contained in the report (which is on file in the City Clerk’s Office).

At the December 22, 1964 City Council Meeting the City Manager reported on the proposed Beautification Program which included the following information.

Beautification Program Objectives:  This plan seeks to develop more fully, and on a continuing basis, broad-scale programs and activities to make the City of Alexandria a cleaner and more beautiful community.  Secondary objectives of the plan include the following:

Safeguarding health

Fire prevention

Community improvement

New business development

Slum prevention

The Contests:  The problem of planning the Beautification Program is complex because many of the persons and organizations who necessarily must be involved in order to undertake the comprehensive program required to achieve desired goals.  A short, intensive drive can produce gratifying results; but the full potential for wide-spread community improvement through a Beautification Program can best be realized when such a program is operated on a continuing year-round basis.  It takes teamwork to develop, promote, and sell the idea of beautification.

By involving large numbers of interested citizens, the Beautification Program can be more easily and more quickly achieved. (The beautification brochure is on file in the City Clerk’s office, marked exhibit No. 1 of Item No. 9; 12/22/64.

At the June 29, 1965 City Council Meeting the City Manager presented a report on the progress of the beautification effort and recommended establishing a continuing beautification committee “to take advantage of the sincere and demonstrated interest of many Alexandria citizens in beautifying our City”.  He said, “Community beautification is a part of the City’s total program for community improvement”.  A motion was made and approved unanimously to adopt the recommendations of the City Manager to create a committee.

Closing

“Our land will be attractive tomorrow only if we organize for action and rebuild and reclaim the beauty we inherited.  Our stewardship will be judged by the foresight with which we carry out these programs”.  Lyndon B. Johnson, The White House, February 8, 1965.

Proposal for Japan-US Exchange on Non-Government Assistance and Management to the Greater Washington National Parks

Proposal for Japan-US Exchange on Non-Government Assistance and Management to the Greater Washington National Parks

February 4, 2005

Request

This responds to a February 1, 2005 request by Ms. Akiko Fujikawa to the National Park Service, National Capital Region.  Ms. Fujikawa proposed that the National Park Service host an exchange of leaders from Japan to visit National Parks to see how non-government organizations help to maintain and protect these places.  The exchange would be in the fall of 2005.

Proposal

The National Park Service, National Capital Region is willing to host a visit by Japanese leaders to selected National Parks.  The plan and the schedule of the visit will be decided working together with a representative of the visiting group.

Parks that are willing to host and exchange include, but are not limited to:

C&O Canal National Historical Park

Kevin Brandt, Superintendent of the park is willing to meet to discuss a partnership with the Potomac Conservancy.  They are rehabilitating Lock house 8, have received Challenge Cost share funds and have raised funds on their own.  They do numerous projects with us from tree planting to educational programs.  Kevin could expound for quite a while and will provide more if you are interested.  A site visit to Lock House 8 and a 100' canoe ride to Minnie's Island where they have a simple educational structure might make for an interesting place to have lunch if the weather is nice.

National Cherry Blossom Festival and Cherry Tree Fund

Glenn Eugster, Assistant Regional Director, and Rob DeFeo, Regional Horticulturalist, are willing to meet to discuss a collaborative effort between NPS and the National Cherry Blossom Festival organization.  Each year NPS and the non-government group work together to celebrate the festival which draws 1.5 million people annually to the City and the Tidal Basin area.  The two organizations have created a Cherry Tree Replacement Fund Endowment which is used to raise private funds from individuals and corporations to replace the trees.

National Capital Parks - East

Gayle Hazelwood, Superintendent, is willing to participate in the exchange and she will involve Tracy Bowen, the President of the Alice Ferguson Foundation to discuss their work at Hard Bargain Farm and Discovery Creek.

National Mall and Monumental Core

Jim Lyons, Executive Director of the Casey Trees Endowment Fund, and someone from the National Park Service’s Center for Urban Ecology, are willing to participate and share what they are doing with an inventory of park trees, community plantings,

partnerships, and green roofs.

Contact

J. Glenn Eugster

Assistant Regional Director,

Partnerships Office

National Park Service

National Capital Region

1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Room 350

Washington, DC 20242

(202)619-7492 phone

(202)619-7220 fax

E-mail: glenn_eugster@nps.gov

"The Political Arena for NPS Partnerships."

"The Political Arena for NPS Partnerships."  

Glenn Eugster, Assistant Regional Director, Partnerships Office, National Park Service, National Capital Region, and Co-Chair, NPS Partnership Council

I. Background

J.F. Rench, a Republican strategist and old and very experienced precinct hack, once wrote, “While the people who run political campaigns complain most about their shortage of money, the first thing they run out of is time…to listen and to think”.

Often as we work in NPS parks and programs we often lament about we can’t do certain things because we don’t have the funds to hire, maintain, restore, plan, collaborate, partner, build, repair, or travel.  As the world inside and outside NPS becomes more fast-paced and complicated getting our work done in a quality manner presents new and different challenges.  All too often it is not only the work we have to do, but also how we chose to do it, that makes us successful or unsuccessful.

Experience shows us that working with partners, within or outside of NPS, expands our capabilities and challenges us to work better. Often, our most effective work results from this engagement with others, where the collective effort extends our reach and that of our collaborator.   

Time and “timing is everything” according to an old adage.  From the perspective of NPS park and program practice it is a particularly important time to step back and reflect on the recent trends and begin to describe a vision of partnerships for the future.

The new leadership of NPS is a very strong proponent of partnerships and will encourage a high level of outreach and collaborative work to promote our mission.  To achieve that level, we need to continue to hone our skills, learn from our success and evaluate our missteps.  In looking to the future, the Service has great potential to serve the public more effectively–as a steward, educator, environmental leader, and advocate for a nationwide parks, open space, and outdoor recreation network.  Energized by this vision, the NPS believes that the power of the park idea is its larger purpose--to create a citizenry committed to conserving its heritage and its home on earth.

This presentation will highlight the following guidance and principles for partnership work in and on NPS parks and programs.

II. Eight Ways of Working

1. Coalitions of Diverse Interests

2. Local Initiatives for Quality of Life

3. Democracy and Civic Dialogue

4. Recognition of Cultural Landscapes 

5. Place-based Education

6. A Framework for Multiple Objectives 

7. Entrepreneurial Models of Conservation Economics 

8. Measurement of Success

III. Three Cautionary Observations 

1. Tyranny of Small Solutions

2. Undervaluing the Relationship Between People and Their Landscape  

3. Home Rule and Fragmentation

IV. Eight Principles for NPS Park and Program Partnerships

The following principles illustrate four components of an evolving framework for partnerships– people, dialogue, and civil society; place knowledge; leadership; and creativity.

PEOPLE, DIALOGUE, AND CIVIL SOCIETY

1. Park and programs are always about people. 

2. Parks and program partnerships require good civics, as well as good information. 

3.  Park and program partnerships create a framework to integrate programs, interests, and points of view. 

PLACE KNOWLEDGE 

4.  Multi-disciplinary approaches are used to understand landscapes and communities. 

5.   Park and program advocates always think one size larger.  

LEADERSHIP

6. Park and program leadership is about collaboration.

7. Park and program action is never just about money

CREATIVITY

8. A Park and program partnership is both design and discovery. 

V. Conclusion

NPS park and program leaders are regularly challenged to continuously broaden their base and encourage an ongoing dialogue among people representing a wide variety of backgrounds and interests.  This dialogue can share conservation experiences working with wild lands and urban neighborhoods; public lands and private lands; tangible and intangible heritage; leisure and working landscapes; and the academy and practice.   Such dialogue will result in timely actions which use our time and money wisely.

Lessons from the Road

At the NPF meeting recently we discussed ideas for linking partners with 

our work.  I highlighted research I've done on the US highway system.  You 

may recall that I mentioned that Dwight D. Eisenhower and Robert Moses had 

masterful strategies for how they got their public works projects 

supported and implemented.  Ike's approach is worth looking at for NPS's 

vision for partnerships, including dealing with our maintenance backlog.  

He focused on teaming-up with those partners that were most impacted by 

the outcome of his vision for highways.  Here is a brief summary of what I 

learned.

Glenn Eugster

Lessons from the Road--Glenn Eugster

The US experience in highway building seems to be a good model for 

conservation and recreation advocates as they pursue future funding and 

support.

In 1916 the Highway Planning & Construction Act was amended to assist with 

the planning and construction of the interstate system and all other 

federal aided primary and secondary roads.   In 1921 Highway Act required 

each State to designate 7% of it's road mileage as "primary".  These roads 

were eligible for federal aid on a 50-50 matching-basis.  Federal gasoline 

tax funds used to support these projects.

In 1944 a Federal Aid Highway Act was created to provide for a 

grant-in-aid program.  This was followed by the creation of a Dept. of 

Transportation in 1949.

1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower asked General Lucius Clay to Chair the 

Committee on a National Highway Program--to assess the transportation 

needs of the nation

The committee included the head of the Teamsters Union, the President of a 

large construction firm, the head of the National Chamber of Commerce, and 

the head of a road construction machinery manufacturer. These groups 

seemed to be key leaders with a strong interest in the final outputs, 

products and impacts of Eisenhower's vision(i.e. more construction jobs, 

more construction materials, improved commerce, etc.)

In the the Act was amended to call for a formal plan for 41,000 miles of 

road.  Of this target 5, 000 miles would be within cities.  A Highway 

Trust Fund was established using a federal tax to pay for road 

construction.  Federal funds were made available on a 90-10, federal to 

nonfederal matching basis.

The President stressed that this initiative was necessary because:

1. Existing highways were unsafe

2. Too many roads were congested

3. Poor roads inflated transportation costs for business

4. Existing highways were inadequate for evacuation in the event of 

nuclear war

Arguably, Eisenhower's vision was met with great support, as well as some 

scorn.  The NY Times, for example, hailed the initiative as "The most 

enormous public works project in the history of the world".  In contrast, 

noted city planner Lewis Mumford said "The most charitable thing to assume 

about this legislation is they hadn't the faintest notion of what they 

were doing".

However, the key emphasis behind Eisenhower's vision was the principle 

that "Model transportation planning emphasizes the total transportation 

system, rather than one or more isolated facilities".  What Ike did was 

create a way to eliminate--or at least reduce an approach to highway 

planning, funding and building that was site specific, seemingly 

uncoordinated and disconnected.  The approach greatly helped America's 

tendency to gravitate toward a "tyranny of small solutions".

Research Source:  "Divided Highway"  PBS 

Remarks for Heritage Conservancy Heritage Partnership Awards

Remarks for Heritage Conservancy Heritage Partnership Awards

June 5, 2008 by J. Glenn Eugster

Innovative creation of partnership and advocacy for protecting waters resources through a comprehensive watershed approach.

It’s an honor to receive this award from Heritage Conservancy.  Although I’ve worked on many of the great rivers of America my education, love affair and work with rivers and watersheds began here in the Delaware River basin.

I began work in the Delaware River watershed in 1974 while doing graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania studying under Professor Ian McHarg. My summer and part time jobs during grad school gave me a chance to work with Bucks County, the US Forest Service, NJ’s Coastal Zone Management Office, and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission on a variety of land and water resources.  My studies and these jobs introduced me to the watershed.  More importantly I was introduced to the communities, group leaders, and public advocates who have committed themselves to encouraging watershed protection and prosperity. 

From the Delaware’s headwaters to its mouth at Delaware Bay I found this watershed to be an amazing place.  It was here that I learned about rivers, their watersheds, people, partnerships and the importance of public and private advocacy.

My experiences were enhanced by a great number of talented people committed to this idea of watershed protection including, Toby Tourbier, Dave Froelich, Patrick Redden, Joe DiBello, Peter Kostmayer, John Seager and David Weiss, Victor Yarnell and Ferdinand Thun, Roger Fickes, Charlie Morrison, Donald Fauerbach, Allen Sachse, Brenda Barrett and Larry Williamson, Marge Hillregal and the Upper Delaware River Council, Alan Comp, Bill Sellers, Tom McFalls, Cliff David and the staff and board of the Heritage Conservancy.  These and other Delaware River watershed advocates helped me understand what it takes to help people and communities protect the water resources that they rely on them, and take action to sustain these values.

The uniqueness of this watershed, in terms of values and functions and the people that take action to care about them, makes this area an incubator of innovative watershed protection ideas and actions. Ideas that have been applied here have been used to shape watershed protection efforts across the U.S. and in other countries. 

I’m honored to receive this award this evening and appreciate the commitment and support of Heritage Conservancy and proud to have had the chance to work with so many of you to steps to protect them.  Thank you and continued success!