Heritage

In the heart of South Carolina, a groundbreaking preservation project is breathing new life into one of the oldest African American towns in the state. Through a collaboration between the Lincolnville Preservation and Historical Society and the National Park Service – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program (NPS-RTCA), an inspiring project is taking shape—one that promises to honor the town’s history while promoting community health and wellness.

This conceptual plan presents the Burns Paiute Tribe’s vision for the development of its Old Camp Historic Park, with the intention to deepen the Tribe’s connection to this important place and expand and enhance the Tribe’s existing RV Park at Old Camp as a destination for visitors to learn about the Burns Paiute People.

NPS-RTCA has worked in partnership with Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native communities for more than 30 years on conservation and outdoor recreation projects. Consisting of staff with a broad variety of professional backgrounds, including community planning, landscape design, conservation, and natural resource management, the National Park Service brings passion and expertise to projects across the country.

In 2017, Latino Outdoors requested assistance from the National Park Service - Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program (NPS-RTCA) to help facilitate ideas to expand their network and develop a multi-year strategic plan to build organizational capacity, outreach and program delivery.

The Anza Cultural History Park is a new park in Tucson, Arizona. Adjacent to the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, the park is designed to be accessible and enjoyed by everyone, including persons with disabilities of sight, hearing or mobility. The National Park Service – Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (NPS-RTCA) collaborated with the school on design concepts and infrastructure improvements for the park.

Three-hundred miles west from Alaska’s mainland, the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island is honoring their connection to baseball by restoring the historic field that has actively been used for recreation and community gatherings since the 1880s. With assistance from the National Park Service, the community now has a master plan to begin developing the park.

What started out as a broad idea to connect Chicago’s two landmark rivers turned into a community-led and multi-faceted project to create a walking museum. The project aims to provide visitors with recreation opportunities and interpretive learning experiences about the history of the land and the indigenous people who inhabited it.

The Mountain Maidu tribe had a vision to restore their land and share their history and heritage with the public. The community collaborated with the National Park Service on developing a plan to implement and improve facilities for education, traditional healing and outdoor recreation at the Tásmam Kojóm Maidu Cultural Park.

The Tejano Trails in Austin, Texas, are challenging the norms of typical walking and biking paths. With an ever-growing population, the trail network is not only preserving the rich history and vibrant culture of East Austin, but it is also providing an accessible space for community members to recreate.

After acquiring Indian Creek Community Forest, the Kalispel Tribe had a vision to create a space for the community to learn, recreate and connect with the natural environment. The tribe invited the National Park Service to assist in developing a plan for the 350-acre forest that would strengthen the tribe’s connection with the surrounding community.