 |
|
|
Dear Park Friend,
Happy Fall! I hope you all had a wonderful summer, which included some fun and memorable experiences at national parks. I had the opportunity to visit several Northeast national park sites in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Maine. It was a truly inspiring experience to connect with these special places, take in our country's rich history and witness firsthand the impact of NPCA's advocacy victories at Stonewall National Monument in New York City and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine. However, my trip also underscored the urgent need for increased funding to support the National Park Service's vital mission.
From infrastructure repairs to staffing needs, the lack of adequate funding has taken a toll on our parks. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, a milestone that holds such significance for many of our Northeast parks, it is imperative that we act now to ensure their future. Join us and take action to secure maintenance funding and cultural resource protections that our parks desperately need.
Delay of Hanscom Airfield Expansion Minute Man National Historical Park located in Lexington, Lincoln and Concord, MA preserves and commemorates the first battle of the American Revolution. Next door to this busy suburban park is Massachusetts’ second largest airport, Hanscom Field. Unfortunately, the airport has disrupted the visitor experience at the park for decades due to excessive airplane noise. A proposed expansion of the airport would add 17 new hangers to accommodate private jets, exacerbate noise pollution and lead to increased air pollution and traffic in and around the park. NPCA joined hundreds of organizations and residents in opposing the proposal earlier this year. Thankfully, in July, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts determined that the project's Draft Environmental Impact Report did not comply with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act. This fight is not over, and we will remain steadfast in protecting the park, especially as they prepare to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors for the 250th of the American Revolution and beyond.
|
|
 |
|
|
Defeat of Wolfden Mine
The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in northern Maine preserves 87,563 acres of serene beauty, dark skies and quiet solitude. However, the monument recently faced a huge threat on its doorstep. In January of 2023, Wolfden Resources, an under-staffed and under-resourced junior mining company, proposed an underground zinc mine just seven miles from the national monument's borders. In reviewing the company's proposal, NPCA identified significant concerns to the monument’s dark skies, endangered species, clean water, quiet solitude and viewshed. In response, we submitted written comments, mobilized our members in Maine, and worked with conservation and indigenous partners to convince the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) to deny Wolfden's request to rezone land for the mine. Thankfully, this past February, the LUPC voted overwhelmingly to deny the company’s rezoning request, effectively killing the project. As a result, Katahdin Woods and Waters will remain a place of tranquility and beauty for all to enjoy. Learn more about this dangerous proposal and the Penobscot Nation’s concerns from this blog post featuring NPCA Northeast Regional Council Member and Director of the Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources Chuck Loring.
Opening of Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center & Katahdin Woods and Waters Ranger Contact Station
Taking in the stories, exhibits and getting a passport stamp at a visitor center are centerpieces of any trip to a national park. This past year, we were thrilled to see the opening of two facilities in the Northeast focused on setting the historical context for park-goers.
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
In August, the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument celebrated two major milestones; it’s eighth anniversary and the ribbon cutting of a state-of-the-art ranger contact station. The contact station interprets 11,000 years of indigenous history. Learn more about this inspiring building and how Tribal knowledge keepers and artists played a central role in its design and development in NPCA's magazine article "A Building of Trust."
|
|
 |
|
|
Campaign to Designate Frances Perkins Homestead
Women have and continue to play a critical role in the history and development of our nation. To date only 12 out of the 431 national park units across the country honor women's history. Therefore, we are thrilled to advocate for the designation of the Frances Perkins Homestead in Newcastle, Maine as a national monument. Learn more about how Frances Perkins made all our lives better as our nation's first female presidential cabinet secretary by listening to our podcast episode "The Woman Behind the Weekend" or reading our blog post "Top 5 Ways Frances Perkins Made Your Life Better."
Launch of Young Leaders Council
This fall marks the official kick off of NPCA's Northeast Young Leaders Council (NYLC), an advisory group of young professionals looking to become effective advocates for national parks and public lands. Currently, inaugural members from New York, New Jersey, Maine and New Hampshire are learning about NPCA's top advocacy priorities and sharpening their lobbying skills in preparation for meetings with their elected officials and park lovers from around the region. We are still looking for future NYLC members to apply from New England, Upstate New York and Long Island.
|
|
 |
|
|
Protect America's Legacy
NPCA is safeguarding the places we all love through the Protecting America's Legacy campaign. With the support of our donors, we will protect and defend America’s national parks from emerging threats — and engage a new generation of park advocates, inspiring them to protect and preserve our parks long after we pass the torch. We're doing this by conserving critical landscapes like Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness and helping to launch new parks like Stonewall and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monuments. NPCA is also advocating to secure funding from Congress to protect places like Gateway National Recreation Area and protecting the many important sites in the Northeast that preserve our nation's stories and history. For more information or to get involved, please visit our website.
Thank you for supporting your national parks.
Sincerely,
|
|
|
Kristen Sykes
Northeast Regional Director
|
|
|
