Our Assistance

Rivers & Trails provides assistance to non-profit organizations, community groups, tribes or tribal governments, and local or State government agencies. This assistance includes:

• Building partnerships to achieve community-set goals;
• Assessing resources;
• Developing concept plans;
• Engaging public participation;
• Identifying potential sources of funding;
• Creating public outreach;
• Organizational development; and
• Providing conservation and recreation information.

National Park Service staff for the Rivers & Trails program are based in 30 field locations to make them more readily accessible to nonprofit organizations and local and State governments in all 50 States. In 2004, we are assisting approximately 300 community projects which include:

• trails and greenway planning
• open space protection
• river conservation
• watershed planning
• rail-trail conversions
• urban greening

Each year, our partners protect over 1000 miles of rivers, create 700 miles of trails, and conserve over 30,000 acres of open space. By working side-by-side with grassroots groups and local governments in communities throughout the country, the National Park Service is building a nationwide system of parks, open spaces, rivers, and trails.