National Parks: a Boon to the Economies

Vol. 20 • No. 2 • Arrowhead 1 The Newsletter of the Employees & Alumni Association of the National Park Service Spring 2013 • Vol. 20 • No. 2 Arrowhead Published by Eastern National FROM THE DIRECTOR National Parks: A Boon to the t would be un - derstandable for Economies of Local Communities Ipeople to be dis - couraged in these times of fiscal diffi - ational Parks continued to be im - of that total spending, or $13 billion, through a cooperative agreement with culty. Sequestra - Nportant economic engines for local went directly into communities within Michigan State University. The entire re - tion has been the communities, with visitors generating 60 miles of a park. The numbers are on port, with information by park and main topic of con - $30.1 billion in economic activity and par with previous years. by state on visitor spending, jobs and versation over the supporting 252,000 jobs nationwide in “Everyone knows that national parks other impacts, is available online at past few months—not exactly a favor - 2011, according to a peer-reviewed re - are great places to visit that offer inspir - www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/ able environment for the success port released on Feb. 25, 2013 by the ing educational experiences, unparalleled products.cfm#MGM (click “Economic we’ve envisioned in A Call to Action . NPS. “Places like the Grand Canyon or outdoor recreation and a whole lot of Benefits to Local Communities from Na - Yet, good things are happening the Statue of Liberty take our breath fun,” said NPS Director Jon Jarvis. “But tional Park Visitation, 2011”). According nonetheless, and I wanted to call out a away and inspire us with their beauty and what this report shows is that America’s to the report, most visitor spending sup - few examples. Under the Take a Hike history, but our national parks also serve national parks are also critical economic ports jobs in lodging, food and beverage and Call Me in the Morning category, as anchors for our nation’s economy,” engines, not only for our neighbors in NPS staff are making great strides in service (63 percent) followed by recre - said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. gateway communities, but for our entire expanding the health community’s use ation and entertainment (17 percent), of parks as healing tools. There are “People who visit parks need transporta - country. The national parks return more other retail (11 percent), transportation now more than 30 health partnerships tion, places to stay and meals to eat—all than $10 for every $1 the American tax - and fuel (seven percent) and wholesale and new programs underway with or - of which support businesses and provide payer invests in the National Park Serv - and manufacturing (two percent). ganizations such as the National Envi - jobs in local communities.” ice; that makes good stewardship sense The last week in February 2013, the ronmental Education Foundation, Blue The statistics for 2011 are based on and good business sense.” NPS also released its 2012 visitation Cross Blue Shield, the American Heart the spending of nearly 279 million na - The National Park Service report is Association, the CDC and others. tional park visitors; more than one third done on an annual basis and is prepared continued on page 4 Pursuing our Ticket to Ride initiative, the National Park Foundation is help - ing kids experience the parks firsthand and giving parks the opportunity to ex - tend education outside the classroom. So far, more than 30,000 students Pinnacles Is 59th National Park across the country have been able to see our nation’s greatest places. This includes 600 kids who learned about resident Obama signed legislation about $4.8 million and support 48 jobs vanna ecosystems of the area; the area’s environmental science at Craters of Pin January 2013 making Pinnacles in the local economy. geomorphology, riparian watersheds and the Moon and 3,000 who have visited National Monument the System’s Rising out of the Gabilan Mountains unique flora and fauna; and the ancestral the Cowpens battlefield for an up-close newest and 59th national park. “This an - east of central California’s Salinas Valley, and cultural history of Native Americans, lesson in colonial history. cient and awe-inspiring volcanic field Pinnacles is the result of millions of years of settlers and explorers. Using social media, new 3D tech - with its massive monoliths, spires, cave erosion, faulting and tectonic plate move - “We are proud to add Pinnacles to our nologies and other digital tools, NPS passages and canyons is a place that re - ment. Within the park’s boundaries lie family of national parks,” said NPS Director staff are finding ways to connect peo - stores our souls and energizes our bodies nearly 27,000 acres of diverse wild lands. Jon Jarvis. “The beauty of the land and the ple to the parks even when they can’t with its beauty and abundant opportuni - Visitors delight in the beauty and variety of diversity of recreational and educational op - actually get there. Thanks to their work, people can take a virtual tour of ties for outdoor recreation,” said Secre - its spring wildflowers and more than 400 portunities offer a unique experience to the Civil War ironclad USS Cairo at tary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “I species of native bees. The Pinnacles rock every visitor. Pinnacles is a place worthy to Vicksburg NMP. And, technology has commend Representative Sam Farr and formations are a popular destination to chal - be called part of ‘America’s Best Idea.’” bridged the Pacific, allowing people Senator Barbara Boxer for their vision in lenge technical and beginner climbers alike. Pinnacles National Park is also well everywhere to explore the tropical sponsoring the legislation to make it a Pinnacles was designated as a national known as an incubator of America’s fragile rainforests and coral reefs of National national park. monument in 1908 by President Theodore population of California condors. It is one Park of American Samoa. “As with our other national parks and Roosevelt. The park’s management will of three condor release sites in the country These accomplishments—regard - lands, Pinnacles also is an economic en - not change by the new legislation. The and the only release site in a national park. less of fiscal constraints—have been gine, supporting jobs in local communi - Pinnacles National Park Act recognizes Pinnacles has been a partner of the Califor - achieved not only in the parks them - selves, but also across our many varied ties,” Secretary Salazar said, noting that the broader significance of park resources, nia Condor Recovery Program since 2003. programs and with the support of our last year Pinnacles hosted more than specifically the chaparral, grasslands, blue The park manages 31 free-flying condors. many partners. Under our Historic 343,000 visitors. Each year, visitors spent oak woodlands and majestic valley oak sa - continued on page 8 Preservation Tax Credit Program, a nonprofit organization restored the long- vacant McCormick-Goodhart mansion in Langley Park, Md., a Georgian Re - vival landmark that was vacant and War of 1812 Bicentennial Goes Digital badly rundown. The house was not only restored to the Secretary of the Inte - rior’s standards, it met LEED Gold By Vince Vaise, Chief of Interpretation, about such an iconic event in American his - the command post. Both are equally im - requirements for sustainability. The Fort McHenry National Monument tory,” said Dave Schaller, Eduweb principal portant. Lesson plans, written to the new mansion will be used to provide social and Historic Shrine and lead game designer. “Common Core” standard accompany services for the Latino community. In “Hold the Fort,” the player as - each game. Under the category Starry, Starry he events of 200 years ago are being sumes the role of the fort commander “Through these virtual online tools, Night , Death Valley NP was recently Ttaught with a 21st-century twist with (played in real life by Major George schools and students who will not have designated the third International Dark “Hold the Fort!” and “Cast Your Vote!” Armistead) and is in charge of defending the opportunity of visiting Fort McHenry Sky Park (it also happens to be the Both are fun learning games that high - Fort McHenry from British attack. We will be able to more fully understand the largest). Lake Mead NRA and George light the causes and a key battle of the wanted a game that was fun to play but battle and the writing of the National An - Rogers Clark NHP each held night - War of 1812. For both games, the staff involved more than shooting a bunch of them,” said Supt. Tina Orcutt. “Both time astronomy events that introduced thousands—many of them young peo - of Fort McHenry National Monument guns—although we do have some of games achieve multiple objectives in Di - ple—to the beauty of the night sky. and Historic Shrine collaborated with that. It is a game that teaches history, rector Jarvis’ Call to Action , for example, It’s gratifying to see the kind of initia - Eduweb, an award-winning developer of decision-making and leadership. Go Digital , Live and Learn and History tive and creativity we’d hoped for when digital learning games and activities. The player must carefully allocate scarce Lesson ,” she said. we launched A Call to Action . Even in Since 1996, Eduweb developed over 200 resources such as troops, ammunition and “Hold the Fort!” has attracted atten - a tough fiscal environment, NPS em - digital learning games and interactives for rations in order to survive the 25-hour tion outside traditional educational cir - ployees are doing good work like this museums, zoos and other educational or - bombardment.

Load more