U.S. Department of the Interior
DOI
National Park Centiennial Initiative

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
www.nps.gov/2016
NPS
Office of the Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2007
Contacts:
Shane Wolfe, 202-208-6416
or David Barna, 202-208-6843

MEDIA ADVISORY

Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett to Hold Listening Session
in Cleveland on $3 Billion National Park Centennial Initiative

WASHINGTON – On Monday, March 26, 2007, Interior Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett will host a listening session in the Cleveland, Ohio, area to seek suggestions and ideas on President Bush’s National Park Centennial Initiative.

The session, at Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Happy Days Visitor Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., is part of a series being held around the country. The President’s proposal would provide up to $3 billion in new public and private investment during the next ten years to reinvigorate and strengthen national parks by the National Park Service’s 100th birthday in 2016.

Participants are being asked to focus their comments on three vital questions:

● Imagine you, your children, or future generations enjoying national parks
in 2016 and beyond. What are your hopes and expectations?

● What role do you think national parks should play in the lives of Americans
and visitors from around the world?

● What are the signature projects and programs that you think should be
highlighted for completion over the next 10 years?

From the session discussions, the Interior Department and the National Park Service will identify signature projects and programs, set specific performance goals and report to the President by May 31.

The public also may comment on the National Park Centennial Challenge online through April 2 at the following site: www.nps.gov/2016.

WHO: Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary of the Interior
WHAT: Listening Session on National Park Centennial Initiative
WHEN: Monday, March 26, 2007 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
WHERE: Happy Days Visitor Center, 500 W. Streetsboro Road (SR 303),
Peninsula, Ohio, 44264, 1 mile west of SR 8.
MEDIA: All credentialed news media are welcome to attend