NPS
Chesapeake Gateways Communities are where a combination of geography, location, transportation systems, economic uses, and services concentrate people at the Chesapeake Bay or along a major tributary.
These communities provide an outstanding welcoming orientation for locals and visitors and offer a host of inclusive opportunities for people to experience a range of authentic Chesapeake resources and stories that encourage further exploration. They embrace a commitment to linking nature-based and cultural tourism with economic initiatives for local resiliency and community sustainability, especially tied with sectors closely linked with Chesapeake heritage.
Primary Elements of Chesapeake Gateways Communities
In collaboration with The Conservation Fund, NPS Chesapeake Gateways has identified five primary elements that are the essential building blocks for a community to meaningfully serve those seeking to engage with the Chesapeake watershed. These elements can be existing or potential elements:
Assets and Amenities—What assets and amenities exist in the community?
Examples: public infrastructure—both land and water based—such as trails, parks, recreational opportunities, cultural and historic sites, public art, etc.
Programming and Interpretation—What is the community doing with their assets and amenities?
Examples: events and festivals; guided recreational activities; museum, public art or historic site programming; walking or driving tours; etc.
Visitor Services—How does the community support the needs of visitors and residents seeking to explore local assets and amenities, and participate in local programming and interpretation?
Examples: lodging; food; restrooms; public space; cell service/Wi-Fi; transportation options or connections; gear & equipment for camping or maritime activities; etc.
Marketing and Communications—How does the community promote and celebrate their assets and amenities, programming and interpretation, and visitor services?
Examples: online community calendars, digital, print, radio, TV, and video; site signage; online and onsite trip planning; multilingual, etc.
Commitment and Capacity—How do municipal and community planning and operations enhance the visitor experience while strengthening the community as a whole?
Example: dedicated involvement of local partners (both government and private) who manage the items outlined in the elements above.
Resources and Materials
The outcome of this program is to have materials and resources available virtually for any Chesapeake watershed community that is interested in the program. This will include a self-assessment tool, instructional manual, and recorded trainings that will allow communities to participate at their own pace.
Please check back in Summer 2025 when there will be links to these resources.
2025 Leader Academy
NPS Chesapeake Gateways will also host a Leader Academy in Cambridge, MD, on February 10-11, 2025 for any Chesapeake watershed community leaders who are interested in the program and want to learn more. The workshop will provide participants with guidance on how to take their community through the process of identifying and recruiting a strong team, completing the activities to assess their watershed community, prioritizing future efforts, and building a stronger connection to NPS Chesapeake Gateways and other communities across the watershed.
Additional Information
NPS Chesapeake Gateways, in partnership with Conservation Legacy, hosted a pilot workshop in May 2024 with five communities around the Bay—Annapolis, MD; Cambridge, MD; Havre de Grace, MD; Hampton, VA; and Essex Co.-Tappahannock, VA. These five community-based teams participated in a self-assessment and trainings to understand how to enhance the discovery, experiences, and connections between visitors and their communities’ natural and cultural heritage and recreation opportunities, focusing on supporting positive outcomes within the community and fostering greater local economic development.
In January 2025, NPS will be partnering with Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County to host a second phase of training workshops for 14 Maryland towns identified in the Chesapeake Bay Ferry Feasibility Study.
In addition to the intrinsic value of this effort, this initiative is also intended to prepare communities for official Chesapeake Gateways Communities designation. Designation allows communities to be included in the Chesapeake Gateways Visitor Experience Network (Chesapeake Gateways). Chesapeake Gateways is a system of places providing opportunities to enjoy, learn about, and help conserve the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Included in the visitor experience network are diverse natural, cultural, historical, and recreational sites, trails, museums, parks, refuges, interpretive and orientation facilities, and associated programs. These places, and Chesapeake Gateways as a whole, serve as entry points and the key guide for experiencing the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Learn More
To learn more about the Chesapeake Gateways Communities Initiative, please email us: Kate Marks, Partnership Coordinator.
Last updated: October 25, 2024