Hillside Trail, with a View

Orange County, CA (August 2006)-The City of Brea opened its first recreation trail, a 1.9 mile loop, in the newly-built residential community of Olinda Ranch, adjacent to Chino Hills State Park. The trail originates at the Olinda Historic Museum and Park, climbs through oil fields in nearby hills, and descends into a residential community through a riparian corridor before returning to the park. NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program staff helped the city determine an approximate trail alignment and prepare a successful grant proposal. The trail was built by Bellfree Contractors under a partnership between the city and the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. The City will promote the trail and offer organized fitness hikes as the weather cools in the fall. For more information, please contact Jim Donovan, RTCA Community Planner, at jim_donovan@nps.gov or 323-441-2117.

Shoreline Renovation Provides Improved Access

King County , WA (September 2006)- Seahurst Park is one of the larger urban parks with water access in the Puget Sound area. However, when the City of Burien assumed control of this park from King County in 1996, the park was cutoff from its shoreline by an old, crumbling seawall. With assistance from the US Army Corps of Engineers, this seawall was removed and natural shoreline restored during phase 1 of renovation. For phase 2, the National Park Service provided technical assistance and a grant of $506,900 through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to renovate a shoreline trail, improve beach access for visitors of all abilities, construct a new restroom, renovate a picnic shelter, and complete native plantings in the riparian areas. Other partners included the Washington Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation and the City of Burien . For more information, please contact Heather Ramsay, LWCF Project Manager, at heather_ramsay@nps.gov or 206-220-4123. The city's grant presentation, and more photos are available at: http://www.ci.burien.wa.us/parksrec/media/seahurst_files/Default.htm .

(Before (left) and after (right) photos courtesy Kings County and the City of Burien.)

Colonial Coastal Fort Transformed

Southport, NC (August 8, 2006)-The National Park Service Federal Lands to Parks (FLP) program helped the City of Southport acquire 6.0 acres, at no cost, on the Cape Fear River for public park and recreation use. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this nearly 250-year old coastal fortification is currently valued at $3,200,000. Acquisition of this property will protect one of the most historic sites in North Carolina . In addition to offering historic interpretation of the earliest beginnings of the State of North Carolina , the property will provide a boardwalk for fishing access and community recreation facilities.

Fort Johnston was originally started as a British coastal defense installation during Colonial times and has been continuously used for defense purposes ever since. The transfer was negotiated by NPS FLP staff. For more information, please contact: Bill Huie, FLP Program Manager, at bill_huie@nps.gov or 404-562-3175.

66 Acres of Los Cerritos Wetlands Protected

Los Angeles, CA (August 3, 2006)- Near the outflow of the 75-mile San Gabriel River, 66 acres of Los Cerritos Wetlands have been purchased for protection, restoration and public use. The new Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority (Authority), formed through a joint powers agreement between the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, the California Coastal Conservancy, and the cities of Long Beach and Seal Beach , purchased the property. The acquisition succeeded through a donation from the landowner, the Bryant Trust; assistance from the Trust for Public Land ; and sale of the site's oil and mineral rights.

Restoration of 400-acre Los Cerritos Wetlands was identified as a priority in the San Gabriel River Master Plan (SGRMP). On June 3, 2006 , the ten-year anniversary of the adoption of the Los Angeles River Master Plan (LARMP), LA County adopted the San Gabriel River Master Plan (SGRMP). Through a partnership with the LA County, the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program was instrumental in developing the LARMP. Building on the success of this effort, the County sought RTCA's assistance to convene stakeholders and work towards a consensus-based master plan for the San Gabriel River . For more information about the LARMP, please contact Peg Henderson, Outdoor Recreation Planner, at peg_henderson@nps.gov or 510-817-1448. For more information about the SGRMP, please contact Anne Dove, Outdoor Recreation Planner, at anne_dove@nps.gov or 323-441-9307.

Imagination at Work and Play

Greater Huntington , WV (September 2006)-Every once in a while, you come across a playground design so unique that it makes adults ask, "Why didn't they have this kind of playground when I was a kid?"

So it is with April Dawn Park. Granted $225,000 from the NPS Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District recently completed this playground which has become one of the "coolest" places to recreate.

With LWCF assistance, the Teays Valley Monster Playground has undergone significant redevelopment and now provides an imaginative space for children to explore and the first water playground in the state. The total redevelopment of April Dawn Park is a resounding success for all those involved! For more information, please contact Mary Vavra, LWCF Project Manager, at mary_vavra@nps.gov or 215-597-9175.

Six Miles of Trail Provide Gateway to Oil Region National Heritage Area

Venango County, PA (September 21, 2006)-A six mile section of the Allegheny River Trail from Rockland Tunnel to Emlenton, PA (a gateway community to the Oil Region National Heritage Area) has been dedicated and opened for use. The project has been spearheaded by the Allegheny Valley Trail Association (AVTA), with funding from PennDOT , PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Oil Region Alliance, and local partners and foundations. The NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program previously assisted AVTA with a feasibility study on a regional system of rails-to-trails in the Allegheny Valley . In 2006, RTCA worked with AVTA, Venango County , the PA Downtown Center, and other partners to conduct a "trail town" workshop for Emlenton Boro and other valley communities to develop locally based economic strategies for meeting the needs of trail users and visitors. For more information, please contact David Lange at david_a_lange@nps.gov or 215-597-6477.

New Jersey Awards $153 million for Parks, Open Space and Conservation

New Jersey (August 2006)-This summer, the Garden State Preservation Trust approved over $150 million to fund the New Jersey Green Acres Program's recommendations for open space preservation and park and recreation projects. These State, local, and nonprofit-led projects will include:
$80 million for state land acquisition for state parks, forests, historic sites, recreation areas and wildlife management areas;
$40.2 million for grants and loans for 113 local government open space preservation projects;
$24.8 million for grants and loans for 50 local government park and recreation projects;
$6.1 million for 50% matching grants to nonprofit organizations for 38 land preservation projects;
$2 million for 50% matching grants to nonprofit organizations for 11 park and recreation projects.

The NPS Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has been crucial in completing hundreds of these conservation and recreation projects over the years. Together with federal, local government and private partners, since 1961, Green Acres has protected more than 605,000 acres of open space and funded the development of over 1,000 recreation facilities throughout the state. For more information, please contact Mary Vavra, LWCF Project Manager at mary_vavra@nps.gov or 215-597-9175.