COURIER The National Park Service Newsletter Washington, D.C. Vol. 3, No. 8 July 1980 Urban projects widen Park Service horizons By Grant W. Midgley backpacking and water sports; and advancing cultural opportunities—arts, Public Affairs Office, WASO exhibits, music, plays and handicrafts. The morning fog that often The Ul covered a wide range of areas enshrouds Point Loma has lifted, and far and projects, from developing studies at below bright sunlight sparkles on the Gettysburg National Historical Park, Pa., blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and San to learning about Tlingit Indian Diego Harbor. handicrafts at Sitka National Historical Accompanied by park rangers, a group Park, Alaska, and from interpreting the of six persons in wheelchairs begins a role of black soldiers in the West at Fort tour of Cabrillo National Monument. The Larned National Historic Site, Kans., to guests take photographs of the exhibiting living history at Fort Pulaski magnificent view from the visitor center, National Historic Site, Ga. then the group sets a leisurely pace for a (Most participating parks presented visit to other parts of the national more than one program, and it is not monument. An important stop is the possible here to mention nearly all of statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the them. COURIER has discussed the Urban Portuguese explorer who, in the Service Initiative previously, and has carried of Spain, sailed up this coast in 1542. short descriptions of a number of More pictures are taken here, all along projects.) the way and at the last stop, at the old As it happened, the Urban Initiative Point Loma Lighthouse. served three groups most directly— This is a Camera Walk, originated at children, the elderly, and handicapped Cabrillo in 1976 as a Bicentennial project persons. by former superintendent "Tommy" Some Ul activities left permanent Tucker, and reinstituted in 1979 for the community benefits. One of these was Urban Initiative. Using polaroid cameras Camera Walk participants leave the statue of carried out at Blue Ridge Parkway, Va.- purchased by the park, "we are able to luan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Cabrillo NM, Calif. N.C., where an Appalachian Resource provide the participants with an efficient Center has been set up. It fills a need that learning tool that becomes their 'eye of gratifying extent, it is also the has been growing for many years for the mind' to capture on film memories of continuation of—and increased attention more easily accessible information about a special visit,'' said Tom. Six individuals, to—the remarkable array of interpretive the cultural traditions of the Southern either mentally or physically and visitor services already offered to Highlands, traditions that embrace such handicapped, were invited for each walk, urbanites." topics as the Appalachian dulcimer, and each visit was arranged to meet their Responsibility for the Urban Initiative mountain food customs and the making requirements. And Cabrillo gave each a (Ul) was assigned to Deputy Director of quilts and chairs. The Center's major small photo album for their pictures. Hutchison. effort is the development of education The United Cerebral Palsy Association Stated purposes of the program were: resource "packages" for use by schools of San Diego wrote to say that • To identify and undertake activities to and community groups in the Asheville, participants "always return to the center meet needs of urban populations. N.C., metropolitan area. Housed at the with lots of news to share with the others • To help city dwellers enhance their Center is an expanding library of film, about their adventures at Cabrillo." understanding of natural and cultural slide and tape presentations, albums and Cabrillo was just one of more than 40 heritages and the need to preserve cassette tapes of traditional music, and areas of the National Park System them. selected books and journals. participating when former Director • To develop programs to inform these "As an environmental education and Whalen launched the Urban Initiative people on the availability and uses of community service program, the early in 1979. national parklands and historic sites. Resource Center has met with For special interpretive activities, $1.4 A memorandum to the field listed exceptional response within the region," million of FY 1979 money was provided, several possible categories of Ul activity: says Gary Everhardt, Blue Ridge but some parks put on their Urban Making citizens more aware of the superintendent. Initiative programs without additional environment; expanding NPS Jerry L. Schobe/, superintendent of funds. involvement with local people in job Jefferson National Expansion Memorial "The Urban Initiative Program is much training, conservation, recreation and in St. Louis, says that their Ul objective more than newly funded special education; increasing understanding of was "to give children from the public programs," Whalen had said. "To a recreational opportunities like hiking, housing areas an opportunity to seen of it, and the whole day was greatly enjoyed by all . ." The largest of several Urban Initiative projects undertaken by the Pacific Northwest Region was an 8-month presentation of "Gold Fever." This play was presented under contract by the University of Washington School of Drama at Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park—Seattle Unit, on weekends from June through September. And the play was taken on tour, showing more than 200 times throughout the Puget Sound vicinity. Performances with a signing interpreter were arranged for the deaf. The 40-minute show depicts the life and times of a stampeder during the great Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1800s. The author tells his story through use of the miner's letters and diary, live folk music, and slides of old photographs. Twenty organized groups and many individuals enjoyed a summer program at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colo. Activities ranged from providing sign language interpretation at the front desk and on the trail to taking mentally retarded adults on half-day hikes. One cooperative project comprised bus Urban initiative, 7979, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, Mo. transportation from and to Denver, a visit to Moraine Park Visitor Center and a 2- participate in traditional arts and crafts (The Spanish first celebrated Christmas in hour discovery walk on the Cub Lake activities, to enhance their knowledge of this region in 1776.) Trail. The Estes Park Lions Club provided the history of westward expansion, and The 1979 event featured traditional dinner, breakfast and overnight to help them perceive the memorial as an Spanish dancing, the Procession of the accommodations for a group of deaf- integral part of their urban Posada, Mariachis, and Pinatas. (The blind adults. environment.'' Procession reenacts the effort of Mary "Most of these activities elicited The youngsters learned how American and Joseph to find a place to lodge in extremely positive responses from Indians made paint by heating with Bethlehem, the Pinatas are large clay participants and group leaders," said animal fat a mixture of ground-up earth animals filled with candies, and Mariachis Superintendent Chester Brooks. Chet colors and crushed berries, which they are brass and string bands.) The also praised the help given by a VIP then used to paint hides, cave walls, cliff celebration was sponsored by NPS, the volunteer. faces and parts of the body. Fort Point and Army Museum De Soto National Memorial, in the )NEM duplicated this practice Association and the San Francisco vicinity of St. Petersburg, Fla., presented somewhat, mixing powdered tempera Spanish-speaking community. Numerous three principal Ul programs, one for colors. Using either brushes or twigs, the other community and religious groups seniors and handicapped persons, the children painted symbols and stick were involved, and funding assistance other two on solar energy and figures to tell stories, or made pictures of came from many business and other environmental education. A "people exhibits in the Museum of Westward organizations. More than 4,000 persons reached" analysis showed this: Expansion. They also tried "sand participated or watched. Number of programs 182 painting," first applying designs with Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, in Persons participating 2903 white glue, then sprinkling on sand dyed cooperation with the City of Chicago, Kinds of people: with food color. entertained senior citizens, bringing in School pupils 415 An outstanding fact about the Ul by bus groups of about 50. The first stop Aged 2212 program, Deputy Director Hutchison has was Bailly Homestead, where the visitors Regular visitors 240 pointed out, "is the extraordinary watched demonstrations of crafts from Special populations 36 number of outside groups that have the early 1900s. After lunch, the group cooperated with NPS. These include spent a relaxing afternoon at the beach. Superintendent Richard F. Hite reports community organizations, governmental While enjoying a pleasant day, that the response has been so good, units, church bodies, commercial participants discovered what is available especially from the senior citizens and enterprises, labor and educational for them at Indiana Dunes. Evaluations handicapped groups, that the park is organizations, and social clubs." were requested, and these quotes working to extend and expand programs A noteworthy example of such support illustrate the visitors' appreciation: for future years. occurred at Fort Point National Historic "..