National Park Service Awards 2009 Centennial Challenge Project Funds

On January 13, 2009, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and National Park Service (NPS) Director Mary A. Bomar, announced $27 million in centennial projects, $10.5 million from the federal government combined with $16.5 million in philanthropic giving. For the second year of its Centennial Challenge, the National Park Service will match federal funds with contributions from park partners to prepare for the NPS centennial in 2016.

President Bush launched the National Park Service Centennial Initiative in 2006 as a 10-year effort to prepare national parks for another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment in time for the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary. The initiative comprises two funding components – the Centennial Challenge and operational enhancement funding – and furthers goals in the areas of stewardship, environmental leadership, recreational experience, education and professional excellence.

Centennial Challenge projects and programs for 2009 are:

  • Haleakala National Park, Hawaii
    Remove and control invasive species and restore rare and endangered plants
    $600,000 – Maui Invasive Species Committee; $600,000 – Centennial Challenge
    Marilyn Parris, (808) 572-4401
  • Independence National Historical Park, Pennsylvania
    Rehabilitate the Ben Franklin Museum at Franklin Court
    $12,000,000 – The Pew Charitable Trusts (lead donor); $6,000,000 – Centennial Challenge
    Superintendent Cynthia MacLeod, (215) 597-7120
  • Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana
    BioBlitz! Conduct an all-taxa biodiversity inventory
    $150,000 – National Geographic Society; $150,000 – Centennial Challenge
    Superintendent Costa Dillon, (219) 926-7561
  • Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, Missouri
    Replace the Arch tram operating system
    $185,000 – Metro Business Enterprises; $185,000 – Centennial Challenge
    Superintendent Tom Bradley, (314) 655-1600
  • Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
    Improve Exit Glacier visitor facilities
    $100,000 – Alaska Geographic; $100,000 – Centennial Challenge
    Superintendent Jeff Mow, (907) 224-7500
  • National Capital Parks – East, Washington, D.C.
    Expand “Bridging the Watershed” environmental education program
    $200,000 – Alice Ferguson Foundation; $200,000 – Centennial Challenge
    Superintendent Gayle Hazelwood, (202) 690-5127
  • Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California
    Rehabilitate Gillette Ranch building as a visitor center
    $2,640,000 – Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority; $2,640,000 – Centennial Challenge
    Superintendent Woody Smeck, (805) 370-2344
  • Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska
    Add transportation gateway and exhibits in the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark
    $50,000 – Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation, Inc.; $50,000 – Centennial Challenge
    Superintendent Meg Jensen, (907) 822-5234
  • Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
    Conduct molecular all-taxa biodiversity inventory for Yellowstone Lake
    $500,000 – Yellowstone Park Foundation; $500,000 – Centennial Challenge
    Superintendent Suzanne Lewis, (307) 344-2010

For complete information about the initiative, more details on the 2009 Centennial Challenge projects and programs or to download a Centennial Initiative 2008 Progress Report, click here.