National Park Service Expands Rivers and Trails Program

The National Park Services (NPS) will expand its technical assistance program and open four new field offices to assist 25 additional local conservation efforts in communities around the country.  Rivers and Trail is the community resources of the NPS that works with local citizens groups to preserve valuable open spaces, revitalize nearby rivers, and develop trail and greenway networks.

New offices are opening in Los Angeles, Salt lake City, Chattanooga, Tenn, and Minneapolis.  The Rivers & Trails program does not direct or fund projects, but when a community has decided to conserve close-to-home landscapes, Rivers & Trails helps it get started by providing a national network of conservation and recreation planning professionals to assist with nature-based recreation development and environmental, historic and cultural conservation projects.

The Rivers & Trails program has participated in more than 1000 projects in all 50 states.  In fiscal year 1999, Rivers and Trails assistance led to the protection of 1400 miles of trails, 400 miles of river corridor, and 11,000 acres of open space.

For further information on the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, visit the website at www.ncrc.nps.gov/rtca or contact Samuel N. Stokes, Chief, Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, National Park Services, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20240, or call (202) 565-1200.

(This information is adapted from material provided by Vic Knox Utah State Coordinator, National Park Service, (801) 539-4227.)