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National Park Service
This "Organic Act" of August 25, 1916, states that "the Service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of Federal areas known as national parks, monuments and reservations . . . by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks, monuments and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." On its Web site, the National Park Service proclaims that it "still strives to meet those original goals, while filling many other roles as well: guardian of our diverse cultural and recreational resources; environmental advocate; world leader in the parks and preservation community; and pioneer in the drive to protect America's open space."
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Copyright © 2004 National Coalition to Save Our Mall Inc. All Rights Reserved |
On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service, a new federal bureau in the Department of the Interior responsible for protecting the 40 national parks and monuments then in existence and those yet to be established.
The agency now manages 384 "areas" covering more than 83 million acres in 49 states, the District of Columbia and assorted possessions and protectorates. The latest to run the agency is Fran P. Mainella, nominated by President Bush on June 4, 2001 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 12 to the position of Director of the National Park Service. She is the 16th director and the first woman to head the 85-year-old agency. Ms Mainella has more than 30 years of experience in the park management and recreation field. Since 1989, she has been the Director of the Division of Recreation and Parks for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.