Photos: AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS: Salazar, Bloomberg Launch Great Urban Park Vision for New York City

CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK CITY — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Director of the National Park Service Jon Jarvis joined New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to announce that, as part of President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative, the National Park Service will ramp up its collaborative efforts with the City of New York and local partners to expand outdoor opportunities, strengthen outreach programs to school children, improve connections among the national parks in New York harbor, and restore New York's remarkable natural, cultural, and historic resources.

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    Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar meets with local officials in New York City to discuss the locale's Great Urban Parks initiative. Photo by Tami Heilemann-DOI

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    Among other projects, the National Park Service will establish a goal of having every school child in New York connect with the national parks in New York harbor during his or her school career. Photo by Tami Heilemann-DOI

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    Secretary Salazar reviews the Great Urban Parks plan for New York City while meeting with local officials. Photo by Tami Heilemann-DOI

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    The National Park Service's Great Urban Parks initiative for New York City is one of the major open space and urban park initiatives that the National Park Service will launch in cities around the country under President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative. Photo by Tami Heilemann-DOI

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    Secretary Salazar yesterday issued a Secretarial Memo directing Department of the Interior agencies to develop action plans to implement the America's Great Outdoors Initiative. As part of this effort, Secretary Salazar has asked Director Jarvis and the superintendents of the national parks in New York City – working in collaboration with the City of New York and local partners -- to develop by mid-March an action plan for the National Park Service's Great Urban Park initiative for New York City. Photo by Tami Heilemann-DOI

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    “Over the last two years, we have reopened the crown of the Statue of Liberty, jump-started the landmark restoration of Ellis Island, and begun to bring the refuges and wetlands of the Harbor back to health," Secretary Salazar said (Left to Right: National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis, Secretary Salazar and New York City Michael Bloomberg). Photo by Tami Heilemann-DOI

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    “With President Obama's Great Outdoors Initiative, now is the time to build on the progress we've made and pursue a bold vision for the outdoor spaces and national parks in New York City, so that the city's green spaces, waterways, and cultural landmarks are healthy, connected, and accessible to every child in school, every resident, and every visitor from around the globe," Secretary Salazar said. Photo by Tami Heilemann-DOI

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    "New York City provides the perfect opportunity for the National Park Service to demonstrate the principles of American Great Outdoors," Director Jarvis said. Photo by Tami Heilemann-DOI

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    "The National Parks of New York Harbor will be a key partner with the city to reconnect New Yorkers and all Americans with the outdoors, to pursue active and healthy lifestyles and learn some history at the same time," Director Jarvis said. Photo by Tami Heilemann-DOI

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