NOI FULL TEXT.pdf

NOI FULL TEXT

Project Goals and Objectives

The project goals are to enhance the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Chesapeake

National Historic Trail) visitor experience on the lower Susquehanna River region, public access to resources and educational and recreational learning programs related to the voyages of Captain John

Smith, American Indian history, and the natural and cultural history of the Chesapeake Bay.

Specific objectives for this project proposed by Susquehanna Heritage Corporation encompasses objectives in several inter-related program areas, including: (1) interpretive master planning and design, fabrication, and installation of enhanced exhibits and interpretive features at the Zimmerman Center for

Heritage, Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, and Native Lands County Park; (2) visitor orientation, interpretation, and educational services at the Zimmerman Center for Heritage, the officially designated

National Park Service Visitor Contact Station for the Chesapeake National Historic Trail in Pennsylvania;

(3) design development of an accessible trail connection and outdoor education facilities for and between the Zimmerman Center and adjacent Native Lands County Park; (4) installation of enhanced dock infrastructure at both facilities to support of an interpretive water shuttle between the

Zimmerman Center for Heritage and Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, and operation for an interpretive water shuttle for two pilot seasons; and Canoemobile—an outdoor classroom learning experience for up to 500 students, who will experience paddling voyager canoes on the Susquehanna

River.

This award is specifically targeted to enhance physical and programmatic access to the lower

Susquehanna River and its cultural and natural history through recreational access, recreational experiences, recreational learning and educational programming, and as such directly supports the

Secretarial priority to enhance access to outdoor recreation opportunities.

This project is funded through a Task Agreement under Master Cooperative Agreement (CA)

P15AC00171. Master CA P15AC00171 was entered into by the National Park Service Chesapeake Office

(NPS Chesapeake) and the Susquehanna Heritage Corporation with the goals of helping the public experience the Chesapeake National Historic Trail and the Chesapeake Bay through visitor information and interpretation. Together Susquehanna Heritage and the NPS Chesapeake work to enhance recreational access to and recreational learning about the Susquehanna region and the Chesapeake

National Historic Trail, providing programming related to the voyages of Captain John Smith, American

Indian history, and the natural and cultural history of the Chesapeake Bay. Programming is provided at the Zimmerman Center for Heritage near Wrightsville, PA and through field-based educational and public programming in the surrounding region of the lower Susquehanna River. This represents, in essence, an NPS Chesapeake operational partnership for Chesapeake National Historic Trail and the

Chesapeake Bay.

Statement of Public Purpose

This National Park Service Chesapeake Office award supports these particular public purposes:

• The project engages recipients, partners, communities, and/or visitors in shared environmental stewardship.

• The project promotes greater public and private participation in historic preservation programs and activities. The project builds resource stewardship ethics in its participants.

• The information, products and/or services identified or developed by this project will be shared through a variety of strategies to increase public awareness, knowledge and support for historic preservation and stewardship of the nation’s cultural and historical heritage.

• The project motivates its youth participants to become involved in the natural, cultural and /or historical resource protection of their communities and beyond.

• The project assists in the creation, promotion, facilitation, and/or improvement of the public’s understanding of natural, cultural, historic, recreational and other aspects of areas such as ecological conservation areas, and state and local parks.

The National Park Service Chesapeake Office (NPS Chesapeake) financial assistance program is authorized by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-312, Sections 501-2) to: (1) identify, conserve, restore, and interpret natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources within the

Chesapeake Bay Watershed; (2) identify and utilize the collective resources sites for enhancing public education of and access to the Chesapeake Bay; (3) link sites with trails, tour roads, scenic byways, and other connections; (4) develop and establish watertrails comprising water routes and connections to sites and other land resources within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; and (5) create a network of sites and watertrails. All NPS Chesapeake financial assistance awards support one or more of the public purposes specified in the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act. In doing so projects also contribute to the overall Chesapeake Bay watershed conservation and restoration objectives of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay

Watershed Agreement—in particular the objectives of promoting and increasing public access and fostering public stewardship. Additionally, projects advance development of the partnership-based

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail—created through the National Trails System Act

(Public Law 90-543, as amended).

Recipient Responsibilities

1. Adhere to the best principles of environmentally sensitive design, low impact development techniques, and universal accessibility in the design and implementation of accessible routes/trails, outdoor classrooms, and dock facilities.

2. Collaborate on the development of educational and interpretive programming related to Chesapeake

Bay and Susquehanna River themes and the themes of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National

Historic Trail (Chesapeake National Historic Trail).

3. Design and implement educational, recreational and stewardship events along the Chesapeake

National Historical Trail with a focus on engaging diverse communities and increasing access to the trail.

4. Provide training to Susquehanna Heritage Corporation’s and partner’s program staff to optimize the delivery of Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River-related content, including Chesapeake National

Historic Trail-related themes in curriculum-based and public programming.

5. Work closely with NPS staff to ensure that projects are consistent with NPS policies, standards, guidelines, and priorities as appropriate; and comply with the terms of applicable laws, regulations, and government policies.

6. Maintain regular communication with NPS staff to ensure that work is implemented effectively and that any issues are identified and readily addressed.

NPS Responsibilities

1. Work closely with Susquehanna Heritage Corporation staff to ensure that projects adhere to the best principles of environmentally sensitive design, low impact development techniques, and universal accessibility in design and implementation.

2. Consult with Susquehanna Heritage Corporation as to the adequacy and appropriateness of the design of the accessible route/trail, outdoor classroom, and dock facility and provide other technical assistance as necessary; provide, where available, NPS guidelines for the development of accessible routes/trails, outdoor classrooms, and dock facilities.

3. Collaborate with Susquehanna Heritage on the development of educational and interpretive programming related to Chesapeake Bay themes and the themes of the Chesapeake National Historic

Trail.

4. Collaborate on the design and implement educational, recreational and stewardship events along the

Chesapeake National Historical Trail with a focus on engaging diverse communities and increasing access to the trail.

5. Assist in the delivery of training to Susquehanna Heritage’s and partner’s program staff to optimize the delivery of Chesapeake Bay-related content, including Chesapeake National Historic Trail-related themes in curriculum-based and public programming.

6. Work closely with Susquehanna Heritage staff to ensure that projects are consistent with NPS policies, standards, guidelines, and priorities as appropriate; and comply with the terms of applicable laws, regulations, and government policies.

7. Maintain regular communication with Susquehanna Heritage staff to ensure that work is implemented effectively and that any issues are identified and readily addressed.