15.945: cooperative research and training programs of the national park system cesu networkprogramming supports a comprehensive network of cooperative study units to facilitate cooperative research,…

The University of Pennsylvania received a $119,999 Cooperative Agreement from the National Park Service (NPS) under the Cooperative Research and Training Programs – Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945), awarded on September 19, 2025, with completion scheduled for December 31, 2029. The project will collect baseline ethnographic data on how the public uses, interacts with, and understands the 292 small parks located throughout the National Capital Region, ranging from 0.0045 to seven acres in size. These research findings will inform NPS management decisions regarding public engagement strategies and park operations specific to this regional collection of small urban park assets.

The award supports multidisciplinary research and integrated information products aligned with the CESU (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units) Network model, which facilitates cooperation among federal agencies, state and local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, nonprofits, and higher education institutions. Project beneficiaries include state and local government agencies, tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and the general public. The ethnographic baseline study represents the NPS approach to science-based management by generating actionable community data that will strengthen the NPS's ability to serve its diverse constituency across the National Capital Region's small park system.

15.945: cooperative research and training programs of the national park system cesu networkprogramming supports a comprehensive network of cooperative study units to facilitate cooperative research, technical assistance, education, and training to inform science-based management of the national park system. The study units facilitate multi-disciplinary science and integrated information products across multiple geographic regions of the national park system. The national captial region is home to 292 small parks, ranging in size from 0.0045 to seven acres. This project takes a snapshot on how the public uses, interacts and understands those small parks. By collecting baseline ethnographic data of the community s needs, the findings will inform management park for how to engage with the public is serves.beneficiaries include state and local governments, federally recognized indian tribal governments, public private nonprofit organizations, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and the general public.