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Centennial Vision
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016, America invites the world to discover the meaning of national parks to their lives and inspires people to both experience and become devoted to these special places.
On the August 25, 2006 - the 90th anniversary of the National Park Service - Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne orders the National Park Centennial Initiative to prepare national parks for another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment. Since then the National Park Service asked citizens, park partners and experts and other stakeholders what they envisioned for a second century of national parks.
A nationwide series of more than 40 listening sessions produced more than 6,000 comments that helped to shape five centennial goals. The goals and vision were presented to President Bush and to the American people on May 31st in a report called The Future of America's National Parks.
Every national park staff took their lead from this report and created local centennial strategies to describe their vision and desired accomplishments by 2016. This is just the first year, and there are many great things to come as the National Park Service prepares to celebrate 100 years!
To keep up with the Centennial Initiative and to experience the interactive version of The Future of America's National Parks and special features please visit the centennial Website at www.nps.gov/2016.
What will the National Park Service achieve under the direction of the President's Centennial Initiative? By 2016, the National Park Service will:
- Improve priority facilities to acceptable condition
- Restore native habitats by controlling invasive species, and reintroducing key plant and animal species
- Improve natural resources in parks as measured by scientific vital signs monitoring
- Reduce environmental impacts of park operations
- Double the amount of volunteer hours
- Enroll two million new Junior Rangers
- Encourage greater partnership and philanthropy
- Reshape the workforce to meet the needs of America
What will Colorado National Monument do to meet these national goals? Colorado National Monument projects include:
- Ensure public and employee safety remain the highest priority
- Reach out to inspire new users, particularly students and Junior Rangers, to discover the monument and acquire new knowledge with the long term goal of engendering new generations of park stewards.
- Use emerging technology with interactive features as effective learning materials
- Rehabilitate the monument’s trail system and develop a sustained trails forever program through partnerships and volunteerism
- Maintain all visitor facilities, including structures on the National Register Historic Places in good condition
- Improve universal accessibility of all facilities
- Create additional opportunities for volunteers to provide visitor services and protect natural and cultural resources
- Build on opportunities to generate outstanding partnerships to achieve mission goals
- Develop and implement actions to mitigate threats to natural and cultural resources
- Control exotic plants and prevent new infestations
- Keep sound science in the forefront of all discussions involving management of natural and cultural resources
- Ensure that air and water quality standards are not exceeded by our management actions
- Demonstrate and inspire leadership and innovation in environmental stewardship and green practices including reuse and recycling, fuel efficiency and alternative fuels
Colorado National Monument Centennial Junior Ranger Proposal
Colorado National Monument Centennial News Release
Colorado National Monument's Centennial Strategy
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