Studies for Potential New National Park Service Designations

How is a new area added to the National Park System? This includes new parks, trails in the National Trails System, rivers in the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System, and National Heritage Areas.

When the US Congress is interested in evaluating new additions to the National Park System, it can pass legislation to direct the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a study that provides expert analysis about an area’s resources and their potential for a National Park Service designation. These studies provide Congress with critical information that can be used in the legislative process of designating a new unit or addition to an existing unit or related area.

The National Park Service typically conducts these studies for the Department of the Interior. Although the National Park Service recommends advance study of potential additions to the National Park System, Congress is not required to request a study in order to pass legislation that results in a new designation.

Active and Completed Study Documents

Use the table or search bar to find project pages and documents for active and completed studies of potential new NPS designations. The links provided bring you to the homepage for each project on NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC).

Project	State(s)

National Park Service System Plan

The National Park Service System Plan released in 2017 shares a vision for the National Park System, describes gaps in the System related to natural and cultural themes, and provides recommendations for evaluating and studying new park units. It has served as a recent guide for shaping the System while leaving room for flexibility.

Additional Resources