Every unit, also commonly referred to as “parks”, of the National Park System has a foundational document to provide basic guidance for planning and management decisions—a foundation for planning and management. Foundation documents are at the core of each park's planning portfolio.
Each foundation document aims to answer several key questions, including:
- What is the purpose of this park?
- Why was it included in the national park system?
- What makes it significant?
- What are its fundamental resources and values?
- What legal and policy requirements, special mandates, and administrative commitments apply to this park?
Foundation documents are a great resource for park staff, as well as visitors and partners—they can be found on most park unit homepages.
Find Foundation Document Overviews
Overviews of foundation documents provide a summary of a longer foundation document. Use the table or search bar to find foundation document overviews for many national parks, places within parks, and other sites managed as part of the National Park System. Some parks have these overviews available in Spanish.
| Park or Site Foundation Document Overview | State, District, or Territory |
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Additional Resources
Planning Framework & Policy
Find more information about key laws, regulations, and policies that guide park planning.
Park Planning Portfolios
Portfolios consist of planning documents that currently guide decision making and satisfy law and policy at a park.
Last updated: September 15, 2024