filed under: health and social benefits
This publication is designed to inform the reader about the services provided by the National Park Service – Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program.
The National Park Service, through the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program (NPS-RTCA), has supported locally-led conservation and outdoor recreation projects across the United States for more than 30 years. NPS-RTCA assists communities in developing or restoring parks, conservation areas, rivers, and wildlife habitats, as well as creating outdoor recreation opportunities and programs that engage future generations in the outdoors. Through an annual application process, community groups, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, national parks, and local, state, and federal agencies can apply for NPS-RTCA technical assistance.
Following the introduction, pages 4-11 provide a general overview of what we strive to achieve in implementing conservation and outdoor recreation projects, no matter the project type or geographic location.
The following sections highlight the areas in which NPS-RTCA provides assistance. Each focus area features conservation and outdoor recreation projects that we have worked on in the past. These examples help demonstrate how NPS-RTCA collaborates with communities and land managers. The projects we highlight are organized into these five categories:
1 . Building Healthy Communities
2 . Conserving Lands and Waters
3 . Developing Organizational Capacity
4 . Supporting Public Land Management Collaboration
5 . Engaging Youth
The last section of the publication highlights our Groundwork program. Groundwork is a long-term public-private partnership that furthers the National Park Service mission of providing conservation and outdoor recreation opportunities to communities underserved by parks and natural areas.
Published March 2023
The National Park Service (NPS) was created in 1916 and today manages over 390 units found in all 50 states and some of the U.S. territories. NPS supports and operates trails in three interlocking arenas: trails in parks, technical assistance to States and communities, and administration of much of the National Trails System.
Recreational Trails Program Highlight: Tennessee State Parks Tires to Trails Program
Tennessee State Parks Win National Award for Tires to Trails Program
Recreational Trails Program Highlight: Brighton Park, Ohio
Brighton Park, formerly the Henninger Landfill, was a construction and demolition debris landfill in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland that ceased operation in the 1980s.
Recreational Trails Program Highlight: Prison Hill 5th Street Trailhead Project, Nevada
Visible throughout Carson City, the approximately 2,500 acre Prison Hill Recreation Area has been set aside and dedicated as open space for the community of Carson City.
