This project equips region 1 parks with actionable guidance to protect congressionally mandated cultural landscapes, support long-term preservation goals and inform management decisions

The National Park Service (NPS), through its Cooperative Research and Training Programs – Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945), awarded $198,000 to The Research Foundation For The State University of New York (SUNY ESF) on August 26, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2027. This cooperative agreement provides landscape preservation planning technical support and cultural landscape reports to NPS Region 1 parks, with primary focus on two park sites: Colonial National Historical Park (COLO) and Women's Rights National Historical Park (WORI).

Under this award, SUNY ESF will develop actionable guidance and treatment recommendations to protect congressionally mandated cultural landscapes and inform long-term management decisions across the region. Specifically, the award funds the creation of Cultural Landscape Reports—mandatory documents that precede any treatment decisions—for Yorktown National Cemetery at Colonial National Historical Park and the grounds of the Hunt House Unit at Women's Rights National Historical Park. The deliverables will include practical preservation planning guidance designed to strengthen cultural integrity, enhance visitor experience, and support effective park management decisions across NPS Region 1.

IT will also provide the NPS with cultural landscape reports for 3 park sites. This report is mandatory prior to any decision regarding treatment of the parks cultural landscape and includes practical guidance that will strengthen cultural integrity and enhance visitor experience. The project provides landscape preservation planning technical support to NPS region 1 parks. IT assists colonial national historical park (colo) with the development of treatment recommendations for yorktown national cemetery (york) and supports womens rights national historical park (wori) in developing treatment recommendations for the grounds of the hunt house unit of the park.