"Through the Active Trails program, people across the country are connecting with their national parks, discovering more ways to lead active and healthy lives, and giving back to the places they love,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “These grants are critical to helping with ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance the 17,000 miles of land and water trails across the National Park System.”
On Saturday, June 14, Lassen Volcanic National Park will kick-off its Reach Higher Trail Challenge promoting hiking for fitness in the park. Visitors to the park can pick up a participation brochure at any visitor station and start hiking to burn calories and earn a free commemorative bandana. Additionally, up to 200 individuals are invited to participate in special Spanish ranger-led programs including free entrance, lunch, gas voucher, and 7-day park pass. These special programs are offered each Saturday, June 14 through August 30; reservations are required. Call the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center at (530) 595-4480 for more information or to make a reservation.
“We are thrilled to use funding from the Active Trails grant to help park visitors discover not only the recreation value of hiking to explore their national park, but the fitness benefits that come with exercising in the great outdoors,” said Superintendent Darlene M. Koontz.
Since 2008, the National Park Foundation has granted nearly $2.4 million through its Active Trails program. To date, Active Trails has engaged more than 5,900 volunteers and 327 project partners who combined have contributed more than 30,000 hours to help promote, refurbish or build national park trails that were ultimately enjoyed by 331,000 visitors.
“The National Park Foundation’s Active Trails program provides vital funding that supports our national parks as centers of healthy outdoor activity for families and communities across the nation,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “The land and water trails maintained by the National Park Service invite visitors to explore natural and cultural beauty, and these grants will expand these great opportunities to even more visitors.”
The National Park Foundation wishes to thank The Coca-Cola Company, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Disney, the Scrooby Foundation, and Subaru for their generous support of the Active Trails program.
The 2014 Active Trails grantees include:
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail
- Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area
- Assateague Island National Seashore
- Baltimore National Heritage Area
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
- Booker T. Washington National Monument
- Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
- Buffalo National River
- Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area
- Cane River Creole National Historical Park
- Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area
- Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
- Essex National Heritage Area
- Flagstaff Area National Monuments
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
- Fort Stanwix National Monument Gateway National Recreation Area
- Grand Teton National Park
- Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
- Kings Mountain National Military Park
- Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
- National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office
- Nez Perce National Historical Park
- Olympic National Park
- Oregon National Historic Trail and California National Historic Trail
- Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
- River Raisin National Battlefield Park
- Rock Creek Park
- Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
- Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
- Timpanogos Cave National Monument
- Wheeling National Heritage Area
