Feature Story

October 2016

National Park Service Celebrates 100 Years of Successful Partnerships

Partnerships play a vital role in protecting and enhancing National Park Service sites and programs. Recently, a variety of groups that have made significant contributions were named as the recipients of the 2016 Director's Partnership Awards.

"The hard work and passion of committed individuals joining forces led to the preservation of the country's first public lands and the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "The long and storied tradition of citizen stewardship not only continues but grows stronger every year. The partners we recognize today demonstrate the amazing things we can accomplish together."

Following are the nationwide recipients of the 2016 Director's Partnership Awards:

• Since 2000, volunteers from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) have collaborated with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program to provide a myriad of fun opportunities to recreate, exercise and enjoy the outdoors. The architect volunteers have helped community planning teams in more than 60 communities develop, design and landscape walking, hiking, and biking trails that safely link residents to schools, business districts, and parks.
• Since 2011, Heather Wickens from Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, Katie Montgomery from Ohio and Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, and Julie McPike from Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area have, through National Heritage Areas Best Practices Calls, brought together employees and partners across the country to share ideas, projects, and new initiatives. Each month they develop topics of nationwide interest, and coordinate featured speakers. The result is a dynamic and engaging conversation, a learning and sharing environment, and a forum that brings together a service-wide community.
• The National Park Foundation has achieved unprecedented success in promoting national parks and programs and in sparking nation-wide public engagement throughout the multi-year Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque public engagement campaign. Through social media, PR, advertising, special events, and expansion into new and diverse media markets, there have been 15.9 billion impressions, enabling a groundswell of support, activity, advocacy and engagement.
• The National Park System Advisory Board Philanthropy and Partnerships Committee was formed to help guide the National Park Service into a new era. Committee members shared and researched best practices in partnerships and philanthropy and participated in national park site tours and presentations by subject matter experts. Their final report guides the National Park Service as it seeks to forge deeper relationships with current partners and increase its capacity to engage new and diverse partner communities.

Visit https://www.nps.gov/subjects/partnerships/directors-partnership-award-2016.htm for more information and for partners recognized from specific states.