Superintendent's Compendium

 

 

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
William Howard Taft National Historic Site
Superintendent’s Compendium
Approved on January 12/18/2025 By K. Wood – Acting Superintendent

 

In accordance with applicable law and policy, and pursuant to the delegated authorities provided in Title 36, Code of Fede3ral Regulations, Chapter 1 (“36 CFR”), the following compendium actions apply to all lands and waters administered by the National Park Service (NPS) within the boundaries of William Howard Taft National Historic Site. This document is the written compilation of designations, closures, permit requirements and other restrictions imposed under the discretionary authority of the Superintendent, as required by 36 CFR 1.7(b). Violating any provision in this Compendium may result in criminal penalties under 36 CFR 1.3.

The compendium actions in this document apply in addition to all other laws that apply to lands and waters administered by the NPS within the boundaries of William Howard Taft National Historic Site. These include:

• Regulations in 36 CFR and other CFR titles such as Title 43, which contains regulations that apply on public lands administered by the Department of the Interior. The current version of the CFR can be found at www.ecfr.gov. Click on “Title 36” and then “Chapter 1” to access 36 CFR.
• Statute codified in U.S. Code, in particular provisions in Titles 16 and 54.

This Compendium is organized by the sections in 36 CFR that give the Superintendent discretionary authority to take the compendium action. Written determinations that explain why each compendium action is necessary appear in this document in italicized print.

Please contact the Superintendent of William Howard Taft National Historic Site if you have any questions or comments about the Superintendent’s Compendium.

NPS regulations in 36 CFR 1.4 define certain terms that are used in 36 CFR. Other sections in 36 CFR may define terms that are used in those sections. To the extent any terms defined in the CFR are used in this Compendium, those definitions apply.

36 CFR 1.5 – CLOSURES AND PUBLIC USE LIMITS.

36 CFR 1.5(a)(1) – Visiting hours, public use limits and closures.

Visiting Hours:

• The grounds of William Howard Taft National Historic Site are open from sunrise to sunset except for fenced and gated areas which are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Effective October 7, 2024, park facilities will be open to the public Thursday through Sunday, however park grounds will remain open 7 days a week.
• The Taft boyhood home is open Thursday through Sunday for touring from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• The Taft Education Center (TEC) is open Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except for federal holidays. Tours are available Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
• Emergency closures for winter storms or other incidents will be posted and/or announced through traditional methods and via social media.

Closing the park in the evening and on federal holidays is necessary because the NPS does not have sufficient staff to manage visitors during those times. In addition, it is more difficult for visitors to stay on designated paths and trails, and outside of closed areas, during the evening. Leaving these areas can cause significant damage to the natural and cultural resources in the park, including plants, wildlife, and archeological sites.

Public Use Limits:

• Visitors of the historic Taft home must be accompanied by a staff member. Carrying large bags into the home is prohibited and may not be left unattended or with NPS staff.
• Food and drink are prohibited inside of the historic Taft home except for sealed food, water, and baby formula.
• With limited exception, strollers are prohibited on the first floor of the historic Taft home.Instead, strollers can be temporarily stored in the basement of the home for the duration of the house tour

To protect and preserve the historic structure and furnishings.

• Commercial photography of the Hiram Powers bust of Alphonso Taft is prohibited.

To protect intellectual property as the NPS does not own the rights to this sculpture.

• Parking in the rear overflow parking lot is limited to NPS staff, contractors, and the visiting public. Vehicles dropping off or picking up students from the Mount Auburn Preparatory Academy School and Taft Elementary School are limited to 15 minutes to load or unload passengers.

Parking spaces are limited and needed for park operations and the visiting public. Allowances will be made for short term drop-offs and pick-ups as long as the drivers stay with their vehicles and stay no longer than 15 minutes as to not interfere with park operations.

36 CFR 1.5(a)(2) – Designated areas, conditions or restrictions on a use or activity.

Conditions or Restrictions on a Use or Activity:

• Launching, landing, or operating an uncrewed aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the NPS within the boundaries of William Howard Taft National Historic Site is prohibited except as approved in writing by the Superintendent.

This restriction is necessary to prevent unacceptable impacts to park resources and values from the use of uncrewed aircraft. Potential impacts include harming visitors, interfering with rescue operations, causing excessive noise, impacting viewsheds, and disturbing wildlife. This restriction is required by NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 dated June 19, 2014.

Filming, still photography, and audio recording activity may require a permit, consistent with 54 U.S.C. 100905.

• Filming, still photography, and audio recording activity that occurs in closed areas, requires exclusive use of a site or area, or involves a set or staging equipment other than handheld equipment (such as a tripod, monopod, and handheld lighting equipment) requires a permit, unless the activity is affiliated with an activity or event that has been allowed under a written authorization, such as a special use permit.
• Filming, still photography, and audio recording that involves more than eight individuals requires a permit, unless the NPS has specifically notified an individual or group that a permit is not required, or if the activity is affiliated with an activity or event that has been allowed under a written authorization, such as a special use permit.
• If a permit is required for the reasons stated above, or if the NPS otherwise determines and then notifies an individual or group that a permit is required for a filming, still photography, or audio recording activity, then engaging in that activity without a permit is prohibited. Violating a term or condition of a permit issued by the NPS for a filming, still photography, or audio recording activity is prohibited, and may result in the suspension or revocation of the permit, in addition to any penalties that may apply under 36 CFR 1.3.

Federal law at 54 U.S.C. 100905 states that permits and fees are not required for filming, still photography, or audio recording in park areas if certain requirements are met. These requirements address various topics, including, but not limited to, group size, location, equipment, potential impacts to resources and visitors, and the likelihood that the NPS will incur related administrative costs. If any of these requirements are not met, the law allows the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the NPS, to require a permit for the subject activity. Permit requirements are imposed by the superintendent under discretionary authority provided by 36 CFR 1.5(a)(2), which allows the superintendent to impose conditions or restrictions on a use or activity, consistent with applicable legislation, to implement management responsibilities. The general regulations for permits in 36 CFR 1.6 do not apply to permits issued for filming, still photography, and audio recording, which instead are governed by the statutory provisions in 54 U.S.C. 100905. The imposition of permit requirements, on a case-by-case basis, for filming, still photography, or audio recording does not require rulemaking under 36 CFR 1.5(b). Requiring a permit with reasonable terms and conditions in accordance with statutory requirements at 54 U.S.C. 100905 is not highly controversial, will not result in a significant alteration in the public use pattern of the System unit, will not adversely affect the System unit’s natural, aesthetic, scenic or cultural values, or require a long-term or significant modification in the resource management objective of the System unit, because the permit requirement is limited in time and scope to the specific activities authorized by the permit, which contain terms and conditions.

36 CFR 1.6 – ACTIVITIES THAT REQUIRE A PERMIT

36 CFR 1.6(f) – Activities that require a permit.

The following activities are prohibited without a permit. Criteria for approving or denying permits are established by applicable law (statutes and regulations) and policy. Permitted activities are subject to applicable terms and conditions.

• Launching or landing uncrewed aircraft. 36 CFR 1.5.
• Specimen collection for research purposes. 36 CFR 2.5.
• Gathering of plants or plant parts by Federally recognized Indian tribes. 36 CFR 2.6.
• Camping in day use areas. 36 CFR 2.6
• Operating a power saw in developed areas and a motor or engine in undeveloped areas. 36 CFR 2.12.
• Operating a public address system 36 CFR 2.12.
• Delivery or retrieval of a person or object by parachute, helicopter or other airborne means. 36 CFR 2.17.
• Soliciting or demanding gifts, money, goods or services. 36 CFR 2.37.
• Using, possessing, storing, or transporting explosives; using or possessing fireworks or firecrackers. 36 CFR 2.38.
• Conducting a special event. 36 CFR 2.50.
• Conducting a demonstration by groups of more than 25 people. 36 CFR 2.51.
• Selling or distributing printed matter and other message-bearing items by groups of more than 25 people. 36 CFR 2.52.
• Running-at-large, herding, driving across, allowing on, pasturing, or grazing of livestock or using the park for agriculture. 36 CFR 2.60.
• Residing on federal lands. 36 CFR 2.61.
• Scattering of human ashes from cremation. 36 CFR 2.62.
• Towing a person using a parasail, hang-glider, or other airborne device 36 CFR 3.12.
• Operating a submersible. 36 CFR 5.3.
• Displaying, posting, or distributing commercial notices or advertisements. 36 CFR 5.1.
• Engaging in or soliciting any business. 36 CFR 5.5.
• Some audio recording (if conditions are met). 36 CFR 5.5.
• Some filming, still photography, and audio recording (depends upon the facts and circumstances; contact the park for more information). 54 U.S.C. 100905.
• Using commercial vehicles on NPS-administered roads. 36 CFR 5.6.
• Constructing or attempting to construct any building, structure, road, trail, path, or utility. 36 CFR 5.7.
• Rights-of-way. 36 CFR part 14.
• Examining ruins, excavating archeological sites, and gathering of objects of antiquity. 43 CFR part 3.
• Excavating or removing archeological resources. 43 CFR part 7.
• Collecting paleontological resources. 43 CFR part 49.

36 CFR 2.10 – CAMPING AND FOOD STORAGE.

• Camping is prohibited at William Howard Taft National Historic Site.

William Howard Taft NHS does not have the facilities, grounds, or oversight for overnight use.

36 CFR 2.11 – PICNICKING.

• Picnicking is available at the Southern Avenue public use area. Groups of five or less may picnic on the grounds of William Howard Taft NHS as long as there is no cooking or fire involved and it does not interfere with visitor traffic.

The only picnic location designed to accommodate larger groups is the Southern Avenue public use area. Groups larger than 5 persons picnicking on the grounds of William Howard Taft NHS may interfere with or detract from the historical nature and visitor experience of the park.

36 CFR 2.13 - FIRES

• Fires are prohibited

  Proper facilities/receptacles do not exist for the safe use of open or contained fires.

36 CFR 2.15 - PETS

36 CFR 2.15(a)(1) – Closures to pets, emotional support animals, and pet waste

• Pets are prohibited inside of the Taft home and Taft Education Center. This does not apply to guide dogs accompanying visually or hearing-impaired persons.
• Provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of what is defined as a service animal in the NPS policy. Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals can be any animal, not just a dog. The presence of these animals provides a calming effect for many people, but they do not qualify as service animals because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task. As such, emotional support animals are prohibited inside of the historic Taft home and the Taft Education Center.
• Pet owners must clean up all remnants of pet waste on park property. Waste disposal bags and a pet waste can are available near the rear overflow parking lot.

2.15(a)(2) – Pet restraints

• Pets must be restrained on a leash that shall not exceed 6 feet in length.

2.15(a)(3) – Leaving pets unattended

• Leaving a pet unattended or tied to an object is prohibited.

2.15(a)(5) – Pet excrement disposal

• Failing to properly dispose of pet excrement is prohibited.

Pet owners are responsible for their animals, including cleaning up and disposing of waste appropriately. Pet waste bags and trash receptacles are available in the park and should be utilized to protect the visitor experience and the historic nature of the park.

36 CFR 2.21 – SMOKING

• Smoking or utilizing Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems is prohibited inside the Tafthome and Taft Education Center.

Prohibiting smoking is necessary to protect park resources, reduce the risk of fire, and prevent conflicts among visitor use activities.

36 CFR 2.35 – ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

36 CFR 2.35(a)(3) – Closures to alcohol.

• The Taft Education Center and Taft home are closed to alcoholic beverages except by conditions of a permit issued by the Superintendent.

To protect the visitor experience, historic nature, and furnishings of the Taft home and Education Center, the Superintendent has determined that the consumption and possession of alcohol shall be prohibited except for specific occasions and under the terms and conditions of a permit.

36 CFR 2.51 – DEMONSTRATIONS AND DESIGNATED AVAILABLE PARK AREAS

36 CFR 2.51(c)(2) – Designated location.

• The flagpole located inside of the fence, and across front of the main entrance of the Taft Education Center (2048 Auburn Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45219) is designated as available for demonstrations. A permit is not required for a demonstration in the designated location if it involves 25 persons or fewer and does not involve structures.

The designated location is in a prominent location near the visitor center that will allow individuals and groups to conduct demonstrations in a manner that will allow for effective communication of speech and other protected activities. At the same time, the designated location leaves ample space for visitors to enter and leave the visitor center safely and for the NPS to conduct administrative activities such as interpretive events.

 

Designated location, highlighted in yellow circle.

36 CFR 2.52 – SALE OF PRINTED MATTER AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF PRINTED MATTER AND OTHER MESSAGE-BEARING ITEMS.

• The flagpole located inside the fence, and across from the Taft Education Center (2048 Auburn Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45219) is designated as available for the sale or distribution of printed matter, and the free distribution of other message-bearing items. A permit is not required for these activities in the designated location if they involve 25 persons or fewer and do not involve structures.

The designated location is in a prominent location near the visitor center that will allow individuals and groups to conduct demonstrations in a manner that will allow for effective communication of speech and other protected activities. At the same time, the designated location leaves ample space for visitors to enter and leave the visitor center safely and for the NPS to conduct administrative activities such as interpretive events.