Finding Our Way to a Fully Funded LWCF

Finding Our Way to aFully Funded LWCF

A Review of the 1996-2005 Land and Water

Conservation Fund Campaign And

Recommendations for the Future

www.ahrinfo.org

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Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation � Finding Our Way to a Fully Funded LWCF2

This report describes an outstanding grassrootscitizen campaign to enhance the quality of lifein America. It shows how citizens came togeth-er to rally public support for national parks,forests, wildlife refuges, state and local parks,

open space, and recreation opportunities.

Americans for our Heritage and Recreation came aboutas a group of activists joined together to form a coalitionwhich had heretofore not been possible. Those whocared about wilderness and national parks joined togeth-er with those concerned with soccer fields and tenniscourts to work together in a united front. Mayors, busi-ness people, and physical fitness people were part of theeffort. Although it was not always easy, differences wereresolved in the common interest, and narrow interestswere dropped for the broader objective.

The ultimate goal of a fully funded, permanent, Land andWater Conservation Fund with equitable distributionamong federal, state and local programs was not achieved.But much was. AHR brought concerns for funding for

parks and recreation to a prominence on the nationalagenda it has not received before. Editorial writers, citi-zen groups, and elected officials came to understand howimportant these resources are to Americans.

AHR’s success was achieved by the willingness of itsmember organizations to work together and to reach outto new allies to join the cause. Managing and focusing adiverse coalition is not easy and key to AHR’s successwere its two talented and energetic staff directors, firstJane Danowitz and following her,Tom St. Hilaire.

AHR is now closing its independent staff operation. TheBoard and the legal entity will continue. TheConservation Fund will provide an administrative andcommunicative base of support.

We believe that the opportunity and need for AHRagain to be a major force will arise. This report makesrecommendations as to how that might come about. Itis important that there be a group ready to rally citizenaction and support.

Henry L. DiamondChairman,AHR

Preface

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Finding Our Way to a Fully Funded LWCF � Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation 3

A Vision Whose Value Endures

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)is a visionary and bipartisan program, establishedby Congress in 1964 to create parks and openspaces, protect wilderness, wetlands, and refuges,preserve wildlife habitat, and enhance recreation-

al opportunities. From parks to playgrounds, wilderness towetlands, bicycle paths to hiking trails, LWCF has helpedcommunities acquire nearly seven million acres of park-land, water resources, and open space. LWCF has alsounderwritten the development of more than 40,000 stateand local park and recreation projects.Authorized at $900million annually, LWCF is one of the most important con-servation tools ever designed.

The need for a mechanism like the LWCF first becameapparent in the 1950s, when a shortfall in federal fundingthreatened to limit protection for places where Americanscould experience and enjoy the outdoors. In 1958,Congress—with the full support of President Dwight D.Eisenhower—created the Outdoor Recreation ResourcesReview Commission. Chaired by Laurance S. Rockefeller,the commission documented the increasing need Americansfelt for quality and accessible outdoor recreation, as well asthreats to the open space and natural resources most appro-priate to provide that recreational experience.When thecommission issued its report, Outdoor Recreation for America,in 1962, one of its chief recommendations was thatCongress should establish a source of funding to safeguardimportant natural areas and provide outdoor recreation

opportunities for all Americans.The Land and WaterConservation Fund was later proposed by President John F.Kennedy, in 1962. In a letter to Congress, he stated:“Actions deferred are all too often opportunities lost, partic-

The Origins of LWCF and AHR

1997 1998 1999

Asilomar, CA 1st LWCF Summit

San Francisco Regional Summit Hosted by Sec. of

Resources Douglas Wheeler“Sustaining a Green CA”

Stateside LWCF Zeroed Out

Superbowl MVP and Denver Bronco

Terrell Davis testifies on Capitol Hill for full funding of LWCF

and UPARR

Boston Regional Summit Hosted by Mayor Thomas Menino

“Green for a Greener City”

HR 701 – CARA LegislationIntroduced by

Cong. Young, Miller & Dingell

New York State SummitHosted by George Pataki,

Governor and Chair,Empire State Task Force on Land & Water

Pacific Northwest Regional SummitHosted by

Seattle Mayor Paul Schell

New Orleans National Summit

Hosted by Mayor Marc Morial

“LWCF: A Window of Opportunity”

Arizona State Summit

Hosted by State Park Director Ken Travous

AHRIncorporated

S. 25 – CARA LegislationIntroduced by

Sen. Murkowski & Landrieu

Colorado State SummitHosted by Outdoor Industry Association

Myrna Johnson

President Teddy Roosevelt embraced the preservation of America’snatural beauty. His bully pulpit and conservation Leadership madehim the perfect icon and inspiration for the LWCF campaign.

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1999 20012000

Southwest Regional SummitHosted by Albuquerque

Mayor Jim Baca“Keeping New Mexico

Enchanting”

Cong. McGovern and Pappas sponsor

Stateside $40 million LWCF Amendment

First funding in six years

In July, U.S. Senate Energy

and Natural Resources Committee Pass CARA

out of Committee

Capitol Hill Rally with Parks and Wildlife Coalition

Featuring Olympic Gold Medalist Donna de Verona,

Baseball Great Jackie Robinson’s Daughter Sharon

Congress passes Conservation Trust Fund

Creating new spending category for parks, wildlife,

and recreationHouse of

Representatives Passes CARA Bill

CARA legislation reintroduced in U.S. House of

Representatives and Senate

Annapolis, MD National Summit

Hosted by Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

“LWCF: A Window of Opportunity”

New Jersey State SummitHosted by

Christine Todd Whitman, Gov. and Chair, Council on

New Jersey Outdoors

Capitol Hill Rally “Hit a Home Run for LWCF”

featuring Baseball Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry

Smart Communities for Outdoor Recreation and the

Environment (SCORE)Coalition formed to focus

on Stateside LWCF

Miami FL SummitHosted by

State Parks Director Fran Mainella

May 2001, House Resources Committee passes

new CARA Bill

ularly in safeguarding our natural resources. Iurge the enactment of this proposal at the ear-liest possible date so that a further significantstep may be taken to assure the availability andaccessibility of land and water-based recreationopportunities for all Americans.”AlthoughCongress did not enact the Land and WaterConservation Fund while President Kennedywas alive, his letter sparked the bipartisanprocess that led to enactment of LWCF in1964, under President Lyndon Johnson.

LWCF is authorized to receive $900 mil-lion annually. However, LWCF is not a truetrust fund and Congress must authorize appropriationsfor the program. If appropriations are not made for thefund, the revenues remain in the U.S. treasury and canbe spent for other federal activity. In some years,Congress has only funded LWCF at a fraction of itsauthorized amount. Consequently, during its lifetime,LWCF has seen its funds diverted to programs outside ofits purview.As a result, a backlog in conservation andrecreation needs has been building up over the years.

A Commitment to Full FundingIn the spring of 1996, the Land and Water ConservationFund Coalition that was comprised of environmentalorganizations and others active in federal LWCF issues

began a working relationship with the NationalAssociation of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers(NASORLO), which included 56 gubernatorial appoint-ed officials who administered the state and territorialprogram under LWCF. In the ensuing months, plansdeveloped to host a unified Land and Water Summit

AHR board members joined Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources,John Griffin, in the historical Paca House garden. Left to Right, CharlesJordan, The Conservation Fund, The Hon. John Griffin, Patrick Noonan,The Conservation Fund, The Hon. Victor Ashe, Mayor of Knoxville, Ten.,Jane Danowitz, AHR Executive Director, and AHR Chairman, HenryDiamond, Beveridge and Diamond.

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Conference in early 1997, and form a new non-profitorganization to be called Americans for Our Heritageand Recreation (AHR).

Although Congress has ultimately funded more than$14.3 billion from LWCF over the 40 years, it has doneso inconsistently making it impossible to plan for anygiven level of funds. 1995 and 1996 were the lowest yearswhen appropriations totaled only $138 million and $159million, respectively, and stateside LWCF was zeroed out.Out of this frustration, advocates realized that a nationaleffort to revive the fund’s support was imperative.

On January 3, 1997, at the Asilomar Conference Centerin Monterey, California, more than one hundred dedicat-ed LWCF activists, including conservationists, the out-door recreation and sporting goods industries, park andrecreation specialists, wildlife enthusiasts, advocates forurban and wilderness areas, historic preservationists, landtrust proponents, smart growth proponents, and theyouth sports community gathered for a two day summit.Hosted by California State Park Director, DonaldMurphy, the coalition set to work to develop an agendato elevate LWCF into a national movement and guaran-tee that land acquisition and park enhancement fundswould be available to preserve America’s heritage.

Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation’s (AHR)

20032002

September 11 terrorist attacks in

NY, PA, DC

Congress passes high funding for

Stateside LWCF at $154 millionBut underfunds

Conservation Trust Fund

Conservation Trust Fund

Coalition Formed

NC State Summit held jointly with

National Coalition for Promoting

Physical Activity

Congress passes second year of full funding

for Conservation Trust Fund

Launch 21st Century American Heritage Parks Awards.

Ten LWCF Sites honored in 10 states:WA, SC, MD, AL, GA, UT, PA, MA, TN, DC

21st Century American Heritage Parks Awards

to Ten Parks in 10 States:NC, SD, NH, OR, NY, VA, WA, MT, AZ, FL

Washington, DC National Summit

“Rededicated to the Parks”

WDC National Summit held jointly with NRPA

“Protect America’s Parks for the 21st Century”

2004

April – Americans Saving American Places (ASAP)

Electronic Petition Campaign Launched

Get Outdoors Act introduced by Cong. Miller & Young

Presentation Featuring Baseball Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins, REI CEO Dennis Madsen,

Walking Promoter Mark Fenton

mission was a simpleone—to promote the cre-ation of a long-term con-servation trust for LWCF.It operated under fiveguiding principles:

� Full andPermanentFunding for theLand and WaterConservation Fund

� An Equitable Allocation of Funding for LWCF’sFederal and State Components

� A Revived Urban Park and RecreationRecovery Program that is substantially fundedand includes land acquisition authority;

� A provision ensuring permanent and automaticannual funding for LWCF and UPARR

� Consistency with the goal of protecting andrestoring the nation’s natural systems, nativehabitats, and historic, cultural a public recreationresources.

AHR spent its first year solidifying its organizationalstructure, adopting a strategic campaign plan, and hiringJane Danowitz as its first Executive Director. In March of1997, the coalition formally transformed into an organi-

Maryland Lt. Governor KathleenKennedy Townsend encouragedActivists to fight sprawl anddevelopment at the June, 1999national LWCF summit.

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The strategic campaign focused on creating a new gener-ation of LWCF champions—elected and non-electednational and community leaders—who would serve aslong-term leaders and advocates for open space protec-tion and recreation. AHR also organized a new grass-roots constituency, outside of the traditional conservationcommunity to support LWCF.And finally, the organiza-tion focused on media to increase public awareness andsupport for a revitalized role in community conservation.

AHR operated on its strength as a grassroots mobiliza-tion campaign that brought a diverse set of intereststogether for the betterment of open spaces and recre-ation areas. Ranging from urban gems, such as Jose MartiPark in Miami to national treasures, such as America’sRedwoods and Everglades National Park, to sports andathletic fields, such as Pawtucket, Rhode IslandSoccerplex, to wildlife corridors including Lower RioGrande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, to regionalbeauties such as the Northern Forest, to outdoor recre-ation opportunities at Big Dry Creek Trail, Colorado,never in the history of conservation has the movementhad so many different interests worked towards a singlegoal of enhancing our nation’s stewardship of its openspaces.

20052004

AHR Chairman Henry Diamond testifies in Senate Energy &

Natural Resources Committee for full and permanent

funding for LWCF

ASAP Electronic Petition of 5,000 names presented to

Deputy Director of NPS and former AHR

Co-Chair Donald Murphy

President Bush’s FY 2006 Budget Requests

elimination of Stateside LWCF program and

severely reduces federal LWCF

Americans Outdoors Act

reintroduced by Sen. Alexander and Landrieu

U.S. House zeroes out

LWCF & UPARR

Americans Outdoors Act Introduced by

Sen. Alexander & Landrieu

AHR Promotes LWCF funding needs at annual House

Congressional Baseball Game, Roll Call ad, Delivery of

Baseballs to Congress

21st Century American Heritage Parks Awards to Ten Parks

in Ten States:WV, FL, NY, CO, OH, GA, PA, LA, NM, TN

AHR launches national virtual town hall

“Speak out for Parks” Campaign,Recording LWCF messages

from citizens in 35 states and distributing to 700 media outlets

Senate restores LWCF by adding stateside

and providing funds for land acquisition

At the heart of AHR has been the broad network of citizen activists thatcare deeply about preserving America’s natural and cultural resources.Local, state, regional and national summits provided an opportunity tolearn, network and express their support for LWCF.

zation headed by a 25-member Board of Directors andthree co-chairs, including Rindy O’Brien, DonaldMurphy, and Steve Blackmer.AHR took up its newoffices at The Wilderness Society thanks to TWSPresident Bill Meadows.

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Americans support and rally behind their majes-tic landscapes. Our nation’s federal parks,wildlife refuges, forests, and special preservesprovide us with countless opportunities forinspiration, recreation, and education. They

reflect our unique American spirit and serve as importantconstants in this ever-changing world. In the 1990’s anumber of America’s premier national parks and forestsfaced serious threats from timbering, mining, water, anddevelopment interests. From the Florida Everglades,Yellowstone National Park, New Mexico’s grasslands, toCalifornia’s Redwood’s, Congress and the ClintonAdministration advocated and appropriated federal LWCFdollars to save these very special national places.

The ProjectSaving the most famous redwood grove containing theworld’s most spectacular ancient trees – some are 300feet high and 2,200 years old –is a daunting task.TheHeadwater’s Grove is home ofseveral hundred species ofcompanion plants and provideshabitat for the threatenedCoho Salmon and other fish.It is also home to the migrat-ing Marbled Murrelet, a seabirdthat nests in the large redwoodbranches. On March 1, 1999the Headwaters Forest and sur-rounding lands were acquiredfrom private owners by theU.S. Bureau of LandManagement and the State ofCalifornia using $250 millionfrom federal Land and WaterConservation Funds. In

remarks concerning the transaction, Congressman CalDooley (D- Ca) stated “I think the Administrationapproached {The Headwaters} with the objectives oftrying to ensure that we would respect the private prop-erty rights of an individual and at the same time achievethe objective that most of us would agree would beembraced by the majority of the American people inpreserving the Headwaters Forest.”

The ProjectTo preserve and protect the historic Baca Ranch of NewMexico in the Jemez Mountains of Northern NewMexico, the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund wastapped for $101 million to buy this historical property. Alsoknown as the Valles Caldera National Preserve, the rim of acollapsed volcano surrounds the 89,000-acre preserve,which includes mountain grasslands, peaks of over 11,000feet, 27 miles of streams and the headwaters of the Wild andScenic Jemez River. Under a groundbreaking managementapproach the 89,000 acre ranch continues ranch operationswhile opening the preserve to science based adaptive man-agement and recreational opportunities to the public. Theranch is managed by a nine-member trust, appointed by thePresident of the United States. However, much remains tobe done to protect this scenic area.

The ProjectBoth Yellowstone and Valles Caldera were created fromancient cataclysmic eruptions that created calderas, orcollapsed volcanoes. Both areas are home to America’selk herds, and miles of prime trout streams give way tohillsides of ponderosa pine. $65 million of federal Landand Water Conservation Funds also came to the rescue ofYellowstone in 1998 to purchase the New World Mine.In 1989 Crown Butte Mines proposed a gold, copper,and silver mining complex located less than three milesfrom the border of Yellowstone National Park. Concerns

Success StoriesSupport for National Treasures

California Redwoods

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regarding risks to critical grizzly bear habitat, damage tothe Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone River, seismologicalearthquakes, and containment of acidic tailings, broughtyears of litigation between the company, citizens groups,and the federal government. The Clinton Administrationbrought all parties together using LWCF funds to protectthe environment,Yellowstone National Park, and respectthe company’s legitimate property interests.

The ProjectEverglades National Park is known for its rich bird life,such as the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, great blueheron and a variety of egrets. It is also the only place inthe world where alligators and crocodiles exist side byside. Today the Everglades is an ecosystem in danger,faced with loss of habitat, disruption of water flow, andinvasion of non-native species. Many animals havedeclined dramatically and some have virtually disap-peared. The growing population of south Florida alsohas altered the character of the land. Urban and agricul-tural development have both left their mark on thisinternational treasure. No other place combines a sub-tropical wilderness, a broad shallow river, and such acomplex and fragile ecosystem. In 1998, $76 million offederal Land and Water Conservation Fund money wasspent to protect the land and water of the Everglades. In1999, another $20 million for additional parkland acqui-sition to acquire approximately 17,321 acres of the Park’sExpansion Area, that had been authorized by Congress in1989 for restoration of the Shark River Slough wastapped from the LWCF fund.

Spotlight on AHR PartnersWorking together with groups of various backgroundsis part of what makes these special projects happen.AHR works with Defenders of Wildlife, National ParksConservation Association,The Wilderness Society,Greater Yellowstone Coalition,World Wildlife Fund andmore than one hundred Florida wildlife groups in orderto help facilitate these projects.These types of partner-ships are emblematic of AHR’s philosophy throughoutit’s tenure.

Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park.

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The ProjectNamed after the famous Cuban independence leader,Jose Marti Park is located in Miami and offers an urbanrefuge for those that live in and around the city, especial-ly in the “Little Havana” section. Recognizing a need forurban places to recreate, the City of Miami purchased theland for Jose Marti Park in 1982. Since then, it hasgrown into a comprehensive park that offers summercamps, special events, after school programming, sportsleagues, and learn to swim classes for both children andadults.The park also features a river side view along withbasketball courts, racquetball courts, a softball field, swim-ming pool, a playground, and a special events pavilion forall of the residents of Miami to enjoy.

The Community and the NeedUrban areas are packed with close knit, communityfocused families that rely on urban parks to help keepthat cohesiveness alive. Commissioner Joe Sanchez ofMiami’s 3rd District commented that “he had witnessedthe evolution of Jose Marti Park into a comprehensivefacility that serves our community so well.” Urban parksserve as conduits where community members can spendtime together.Without urban parks, there is one lessplace where a sense of community can evolve and takeform. Jose Marti Park was awarded one of AHR’s 21stCentury American Heritage Park Awards because of itscontribution to the community and the diversity that itrepresents.

Because not everyone who lives in urban areas has theability to get out and access our national treasures, itbecomes ever more important to provide those individu-als with places where they can recreate. Miami’s Mayor,Manuel Diaz, stated that “it has been a part of his visionthat our municipal parks become centers of activity, cul-

ture and learning for our children and their families, andJose Marti Park is a fine example of this objective.”Withthe increasing loss of open space in our urban areas todevelopment, it becomes more critical to put aside areasthat can accommodate places where people can recreateor simply relax on a beautiful afternoon.

Spotlight on AHR PartnersMayors all across the country also know the importanceof urban parks.That is why AHR partnered with the USConference of Mayors on many occasions.AHR workedregularly with the US Conference of Mayors to secureresolutions in support of LWCF.The collective voice ofthe US Conference of Mayors provided a significantconstituency that AHR could rely on in order to helppromote LWCF and the urban refuges that are so impor-tant to cities across the country.Additionally,AHR workswith the National Recreation and Park Association,National Governors Association, the Southern GovernorsAssociation, the Western Governors Association, and theNational League of Cities. It is these partnerships thatmake AHR a strong and formidable coalition of advo-cates for parks and recreation.

Jose Marti ParkLWCF Creates an Urban Refuge

Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz with some younger visitors in Jose Marti Park.

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The ProjectThe Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, located inErrol, New Hampshire, consists of an 8,500 acre lake andover 15,000 acres in total that are managed and protectedby the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). In 2001, theFWS purchased 6,218 acres in Errol from the Boston-based Hancock Timber Resource Group (HTRG) for$3,245,000.The purchase consisted of five forestedparcels that all lie within the acquisition boundary thatwas established for the Refuge in 1992.The Trust ForPublic Land (TPL) assisted with the acquisition andLWCF funds were used to help make the purchase.David Houghton, field director for TPL, stated that “weare proud to have worked in partnership with Errol resi-dents and officials, area organizations, New Hampshire’scongressional delegation, the Lake Umbagog NationalWildlife Refuge, and HTRG to help protect this naturaland scenic jewel.”The Refuge and surrounding wetlandsattract large numbers of moose, waterfowl, songbirds,loons, osprey, bald eagles, and other wildlife. It is trulyrich in wildlife diversity and serves as critical habitat forall of them.

The Community and the NeedThe town of Errol is a small community that economi-cally benefits from the visitors that come each year tovisit the Refuge. Errol Selectman Fran Coffin said that itdraws kayakers and fisherman in the summer and snow-mobilers and cross-country skiers in the winter and thatit has been a real asset to the community. Its LWCF proj-ects like these that present a win-win situation for peopleand the environment.As Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)stated “the Land and Water Conservation Fund guaran-tees much needed funds for a variety of conservationprojects throughout New Hampshire. Our state isrenowned for its diverse environmental treasures, includ-ing Lake Umbagog, a critical nesting and feeding habitatfor several state and federally listed threatened andendangered species. However, without continued fundingand preservation, future generations will not be able toenjoy the entire property.”There is a great need to pur-chase inholdings within the four land management areasand LWCF is an excellent tool to help meet those needs.In fact, the purchase at Lake Umbagog was used toround out the Refuges’ inholdings in order that the FWScan better manage the area.

Spotlight on AHR PartnersAHR found a solid partner in The Trust for Public Landover the years. Having both stateside and federal partnerswas crucial in broadening the coalition for the program.Other groups that AHR works with are TheConservation Fund, Land Trust Alliance,The NatureConservancy,The Wilderness Society, and the NationalParks Conservation Association.With these groups,AHRis able to harness Congressional support for projectswithin all of the four land management agencies.

Lake UmbagogA Model National Wildlife Refuge

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The ProjectThis project is a wonderful example of how LWCF fundscan be leveraged with state and local monies in order tohelp meet the needs of growing communities.This soc-cer project will take place in Pawtucket, Rhode Island onthe former site of the Newman Crosby Steel Mill, thusmaking it a brownfield site.The city has been workingon a remediation plan that will allow it to meet safe resi-dential standards for reuse, enabling it to be used as asoccer field complex.The total cost of the project is$2,000,000 of which $400,000 is LWCF money,$750,000 is state money, and $850,000 was put up by thelocal city. It will be approximately 8 acres and will bedeveloped into two regulation soccer fields, and twoyouth soccer fields. In addition to being used by youthand adult soccer leagues, the facility will also be open tothe public.And for those not directly involved in soccer,there will be a walking trail as an additional site amenity.

The Community and the NeedIn the city of Pawtucket, soccer participation has dramati-cally risen in all age groups over the past ten years how-ever; no new soccer fields have been added. In 1990, therewere two adult teams in Pawtucket, and in 2000 there

were eight adult league teams. Other statistics are evenmore compelling when it comes to soccer. Nationwide17,000,000 people play soccer, more than 11,000,000 ofthem are under eighteen, 6 million are female, and 30percent of them are children under the age of twelve.Thisnew complex will be the only sports complex dedicatedspecifically to soccer in the entire city. It will decreasecongestion and conflicts on existing fields and help toaccommodate the growing need for youth and adult soc-cer areas. Because Pawtucket is one of the most denselypopulated cities in the state of Rhode Island, there is arising demand for the use of soccer fields. In addition topopulation growth, the popularity of soccer has risen pre-cipitously in the past decade.This facility will help tomeet the demands of the city of Pawtucket and it alsodemonstrates the continued need for LWCF in commu-nities across the country.A fully funded LWCF can con-tinue to help meet the needs for soccer fields across thecountry.

Spotlight on AHR PartnersAHR works with the US Soccer Foundation on a regu-lar basis in order to help advocate for the need for morefields. Over the 40 year history of the program, morethan 7,000 fields have been built with the help of LWCF.Other advocates in the soccer community are theAmerican Youth Soccer Organization and US YouthSoccer.AHR also partners with the National Council ofYouth Sports, Pop Warner Little Scholars, and PonyBaseball and Softball. Major League Baseball, theNational Football League, and the United States TennisAssociation are professional sports partners in the cam-paign.All of these partnerships help to underscore theneed for all types of playing fields throughout the coun-try.This coalition of youth and adult sports leagues helpto highlight the continued demand for LWCF and thebenefits that it has on communities across the country.

Pawtucket SoccerPlexFields of Joy

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The ProjectIn 1999,The Conservation Fund worked with privatelandowners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)to complete the acquisition of nearly 20,000 acres foradditional lands at this most biologically diverse area inthe nation for birds and other endangered species like theocelot. The Lower Rio Grande Valley Wildlife Refugewas established in 1979 to connect the natural existingtracts of lands left along the last stretch of the RioGrande’s journey. The refuge currently contains morethan 90,000 acres and is considered a top priority acqui-sition area by the FWS using federal Land and WaterConservation Funds. Eventually the refuge will encom-pass 132,500 acres and the purchase of adjacent proper-ties and conservation easements will connect these frag-ments from willing sellers, a very important reason forLWCF to be fully funded in the future.

The Community and the NeedThe area’s skyrocketing population is surrounding therefuge, chewing up important habitat, and making italmost impossible for ocelot, jaguarondi, and otherspecies to travel between refuge parcels. More than 480species of birds have been documented on the refuge –more avian diversity than anywhere else in the refugesystem. Add to that about half of all North Americanbutterfly species and 11 distinct biological communitiesranging from thorn forests to tidal wetlands all form thisessential refuge management system.

Spotlight on AHR PartnersThe Conservation Fund,Texas Parks and WildlifeDepartment, National Audubon Society,The NatureConservancy, Friends of the Santa Ana National WildlifeRefuge,The Wilderness Society, Defenders of Wildlife,

Sierra Club, and private landowners are all AHR partnersworking towards funding for this very special wildlifearea. Defenders of Wildlife have made the Lower RioGrand Valley National Wildlife Refuge one of its 10Most Endangered Wildlife Refuges. In its report itnotes,“Although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hasplans to connect the refuge’s parcels into a functioningwhole, the Service has been hamstrung by the adminis-tration’s cuts in federal land acquisition spending. ThePresident should call on Congress to fully fund theLWCF, and Congress should dedicate LWCF funds totheir intended use—state and federal conservation.”

Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge

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The ProjectThe Northern Forest is the largest remaining wild forestin the East. Its 26 million acres stretch from Maine's St.Croix River westward through New Hampshire andVermont, and clear across New York's Adirondacks to TugHill.The region encompasses the most remote, pristinelakes in the Northeast; the headwaters of the Hudson,the Connecticut, the St. John, and other great easternrivers; and vast tracts of forestland that shelter more than250 species of wild creatures and migratory birds.Wildness here is seen in bald eagles,Atlantic salmon, lynxand moose. It is heard in the silence of the woods, and inthe rush of spring water through swollen rivers.TheNorthern Forest is home to a million people whodepend on the forest to sustain their communities.Another 70 million people - roughly one third of thenation's population - live within a day's drive. An esti-mated 10 million people come to the Northern Forestevery year to explore its towns and villages, and to enjoyits abundant recreational opportunities.

The Community and the NeedHundreds of thousands of acres of land and water withinthe Northern Forest are under threat from developmentand second home creep.Areas in need of LWCF fundsinclude the Oswegatchie Great Forest and BorealHeritage Reserve in New York,AndroscogginHeadwaters Wildlands in Maine, the Northern GreenMountains Wildland in Vermont, and the ConnecticutRiver Headwaters in New Hampshire and Vermont.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has beenresponsible for the acquisition of lands, waters, and foreststhroughout the Northern Forest area. LWCF has beenespecially helpful in creating and expanding wildliferefuges, including the Conti National Wildlife Refuge inVermont and the Lake Umbagog National WildlifeRefuge in New Hampshire and Maine.The statesideLWCF has also been useful in protecting recreationalaccess within the Northern Forest, including the LongTrail in the Northern Green Mountains area.

Spotlight on AHR PartnersThe Northern Forest Alliance (NFA), a coalition of morethan 50 conservation, recreation, and forestry organiza-tions protecting the Northern Forest of Maine, NewHampshire,Vermont and New York, demonstrates that aregional approach to land protection can be sought usingboth federal and stateside LWCF funds. Other groupsutilizing this tactic include the Highlands Coalition,Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Continental Divide TrailAlliance,Appalachian Mountain Club, and the PacificCrest Trail Alliance.

The Northern ForestLWCF Preserves a Regional Presence in the Northeast

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The ProjectLocated in the Englewood/Littleton area ofColorado, the Big Dry Creek Trail connects to theexisting 115 mile trail system that runs throughoutthe park and recreation districts’ 55 square mileservice area.The South Suburban Park RecreationDistrict, the group that is responsible for the trail’srefurbishing, received a $323,000 stateside LWCFgrant to add a 2.5 mile stretch to the trail thatincluded the construction of an impressive 200 footfree span bridge extending over the South PlatteRiver. LWCF funding helped revitalize an “industri-al backyard” into a walkway that people use forrecreation and commuting.

The Community and the NeedPart of the uniqueness of the Big Dry Creek Trail is thatit serves as a multi-use trail for recreational enthusiasts.The recreation/commuter trail runs through the Denvermetro area making it an ideal outlet for those commut-ing to work, exercising, or simply enjoying the recre-ational aspect.The trail is used by bicyclists, walkers, jog-gers, rollerbladers, dog walkers, and those out to viewthe various wildlife along the way.As Bill Woodcock,manager of planning and construction for the SouthSuburban Park and Recreation District noted “We’vegone back and turned an industrial backyard into a walk-way that people use for recreation and to commute on.”The Big Dry Creek Trial was the only trail to receiveAHR’s “21st Century American Heritage Park Award”specifically because of the uniqueness of the project. Byoffering accessible recreation for all users, this trail is amodel of what LWCF can do for a community.

Not only are trails an excellent outlet for recreation andcommuting, but the use of the trails and the benefits to ourhealth is well documented. Having access to trails is a criti-cal factor in getting people out and exercising. LWCF has

helped build more than 7,000 trails across the country andthe need is still as great as ever.At South Suburban Parks,they have plans to extend the Big Dry Creek Trail andhave an additional need of $3 million to continue the trail.This is only one example of many across the countrywhere funds are needed for recreation and LWCF can helpmeet those needs when funded at its $900 million level.

Spotlight on AHR PartnersOne of the biggest strengths of AHR is its ability towork with a diverse set of individuals and groups.AHRmakes it a point to connect to user groups all over thecountry in order to broaden its coalition. One such usergroup is the International Mountain BicyclingAssociation (IMBA). Groups like these help AHR con-nect with the people that use the resources. IMBA mem-bers are users of the Big Dry Creek Trail and know firsthand the importance of continued LWCF funding.Withthe help of other user groups such as the AmericanCanoe Association, the American Hiking Society, theOutdoor Industry Association, and the Access Fund,AHR taps into a unique constituency that broadens sup-port for LWCF.

Big Dry Creek Trail: A Multi-Use Trail

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The Land and Water Conservation Fund hasbeen the principal federal source of funds foracquiring new conservation lands, and assistingstates in developing recreational lands and facil-ities. The original intention of the fund was to

provide $900 million for these purposes through arevolving fund through the U.S.Treasury. Receipts com-ing into the Treasury from oil and gas royalties from theOuter Continental Shelf (OCS) would be used forLWCF, with the balance of OCS receipts to be used forother purposes.

Going Off Budget: Conservation andReinvestment Act (CARA) FundLegislation to fully fund the LWCF and to make it oper-ate like a private sector trust fund was introduced nearthe end of the 105th Congress by some unlikely politicalallies – Congressmen Don Young of Alaska, Chairman ofthe House Resources Committee, and Democratic mem-bers George Miller of California and John Dingell, oneof the senior-most members of the House ofRepresentatives. Senator Frank Murkowski, Chairman ofEnergy and Natural Resources Committee, and newlyelected Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, teamed upto spearhead a similar proposal to divert offshore oil andgas revenues to permanently appropriate receipts credited

to the LWCF and other conservation purposes.The leg-islative effort brought together an unprecedented coali-tion of outdoor advocates whose interests includewildlife, urban parks, conservation easements, Indianlands restoration, historic preservation, coastal impactassistance, and payment-in-lieu of taxes.

CARA passed the House of Representatives on May 11,2000 with a stunning victory of 315 votes for and 102votes against the bill. In the end 118 Republicans votedin favor of this landmark legislation. The Senate Energyand Natural Resources Committee deliberated over thebill through the summer of 2000, and reported a revisedbill to the Senate floor. Unfortunately, there was notenough time left on the Senate legislative calendar tobring the bill to a final vote.

Picking up the PiecesAs the 106th Congress drew to a close in 2001 withoutfinal passage of the CARA legislation, budget and appro-priations members included aspects of CARA in the FY

Policy

Capitol Hill Rally in February 2000 brought wildlife, park and LWCFsupporters together to ask for full finding of LWCF. The event was emceedby Olympic gold medalist, Donna deVarona, and baseball great, JackieRobinson’s daughter, Sharon, representing Major League Baseball.

AHR Report_2005 7/13/05 4:47 PM


2001 appropriations legisla-tion. The ConservationSpending Category (CSC)established target spendingthat would increase spend-ing in increments over sixyears from $1.6 billion in2001 to $2.4 billion in2006. Unfortunately, grow-ing concern about federalbudget deficits, the war onterrorism, and legislativedrafting differences betweenthe Interior and CommerceAppropriations bills short-circuited the effort.

LWCF Spending for Other PurposesOver time, the use of LWCF for federal conservationprograms beyond the traditional acquisition purposes hasincreased. The Land Owner Incentive Program was oneof the first new easement-type programs to be fundedthrough LWCF dollars. Forest Legacy, passed by Congressin 1990, also tapped LWCF to help pay for protection offorests that were threatened by conversion to non-forestlands that require a match of state and private money.These programs are innovative approaches to conserva-tion and protect land against rapid encroachment ofdevelopment. However, these programs do not alwaysprovide public access and limit recreational opportunities.Using OCS receipts to help protect the environment andprovide recreational enhancements remains a strong pub-lic policy, but if we add new programs, it becomesimperative that the full $900 million and more be allo-cated yearly.

Open spaces play a role in health, welfare, andimagination of the American people: LWCFpoised to provide health benefits throughexpanded recreation and outdoor access for allAmericans.In July 2004, sales of U.S. recreational products pushed$70 billion, according to the SGMA International’s recre-ation marketing survey. $1.72 billion was spent forcamping, $1.03 billion for fishing, and $240 million forsoccer equipment for one year alone.Yet, at the sametime the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhave declared that tens of millions of Americans are nowobese and health care costs associated with obesity coststate and federal governments approximately $117 billionannually.

In 2004, Congressional leaders of LWCF introduced newlegislation called the Get Outdoors and AmericansOutdoors Act to focus on the long-term benefits ofrecreation and open space preservation and public health.Thousands of baseball fields, swimming pools, soccerfields, biking and hiking trails have been built and main-tained by the state-side portion of LWCF. Using theCARA effort as a model, Congressmen Young and Millerand Senators Landrieu and Alexander recommendedexpanding federal investments in state and local parks andopen space conservation. But, for the first time in LWCFhistory, legislation was introduced that would split the 40year old fund, by not including federal acquisition dollarsin the dedicated trust.The Senate Americans OutdoorsAct received a hearing before the Senate Energy andNatural Resources Committee in July 2004. But, grow-ing demands on the national budget from the Iraq War,summer wildfires in the west, and other natural disasters,made the Senate Budget Committee unwilling to movethe legislation forward. Once again, efforts to fix thebudget problems of LWCF went unresolved.

Tom Cove, President of SGMAInternational, an association ofthe sports product industriesdedicated to the growing businessof sports and fitness worldwide,brought Nike, Champion, andleading multi-million-dollarcompanies into the campaign.

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Mark Fenton, hostof PBS television’s“America Walking“and member of theU.S. race walkingteams, informedthe press on theconnection betweenpublic health and theneed for communityparks at the GreatOutdoors Act pressconference,March 2004.


Political supporthas been on theincrease for pre-serving recreation opportunities by connecting people totheir neighborhoods and their land. In 2003, a total of134 ballot measures at the state and local levels werevoted on for land conservation. Voters approved 100 ofthe ballot initiatives to raise $1.8 billion in non-federalfunding for their parks. Congressional members believedthat by expanding an already successful outdoor programlike LWCF into more communities, local parks, andtrails, that it could be one of the most effective tools inpromoting physical activity and combating obesity.

Annual LWCF Congressional Appropriations forthe Years 1997-2005:

This chart reflects the timeframe in which AHR followed andtracked appropriations for LWCF. Since LWCF was enacted in1964, this chart represents a portion of the years that appropria-tions were made to the program.

MIL

LIO

NS

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 20050

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

IN MILLIONS

Stateside

Federal

AHR Report_2005 7/13/05 4:47 PM


AHR communicates with key opinion makersat the national, state, and local levels on thevalues of parks and recreation areas made pos-sible by LWCF.The organization mobilizes itsnational coalition through its extensive grass-

roots communications network, employing leaders fromacross the country to coordinate an integrated publiceducation campaign. Below are some examples of“Grassroots in Action.”

National and Micro-Summits were a key componentof AHR’s outreach and education efforts, gatherings thatserved to bring together diverse groups to highlightLWCF and strategize about its full implementation.AHRorganized national summits in New Orleans, Louisiana,Annapolis, Maryland, and Washington, DC. It also organ-ized micro-summits in Boston, Massachusetts;Tucson,Arizona;Albany, New York; Seattle,Washington; Raleigh,North Carolina; Boulder, Colorado;Trenton, New Jersey;Chicago, Illinois; Birmingham,Alabama; San Francisco,California;Asheville, North Carolina; and Albuquerque,New Mexico.

21st Century American Heritage Park Awardswere given annually to the “top ten” LWCF-fundedparks across the country, generating print, radio, and tele-vision coverage of the issue and providing a forum forelected officials to air their views on parks and recre-ation.The parks were chosen for their ability to provideclose-to-home, publicly accessible recreation that encour-ages smart growth; demonstrate funding partnershipsamong federal, state, local, and private entities; shed lighton the unique cultural, natural, and historical heritage ofAmerica’s parks; offer a diversity of conservation andrecreational opportunities; and meet specific recreationaland physical activity needs to nearby communities. Overthree years, thirty LWCF-funded projects were highlight-ed, including the historical significance at Florida’sStephen Foster Culture Center State Park: vital land

acquisition at NewHampshire’s LakeUmbagog NationalWildlife Refuge: sportsfacilities development atthe home to the LittleLeague World Series atSouth WilliamsportBorough Park inPennsylvania; and recre-ational enhancements atUtah Lake State Park.

LWCF Site Tours weregiven to elected officialsfrom the federal, state, and local levels. Because LWCF’sgreatest asset is the legacy of successful projects and part-nerships, which it has fostered,AHR actively took localpolicy makers to LWCF parks, playgrounds, wildliferefuges, and trails. More than 200 site tours were organ-ized during the campaign. Proving the benefit of bring-ing elected officials to see LWCF projects first hand wasthe site tour that brought Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) to local parks in Massachusetts. Rep. McGovernbecame a champion for LWCF, introducing an amend-ment to the FY 2000 Appropriations bill that garnered$40 million for the stateside program—the first fundingof the program in five years!

Editorials, letters, Resolutions, and Statementsof Support were obtained from every state on behalf ofthe Land and Water Conservation Fund.AHR outreachorganizers and state and local coalitions generated morethan 3,000 public documents of support authored by thenation’s governors, mayors, city councils and county lead-ers, state and local park and recreation associations,tourism councils, land trusts and conservation groups,outdoor recreation businesses, soccer leagues,“Boys andGirls” clubs, and other youth sports groups.AHR com-

Grassroots in Action

The Honorable Marc Morial,Mayor of New Orleans, and nowPresident of the National UrbanLeague, valued LWCF and UPARRfor the dollars it brought to hiscity to provide parks, trails, andpreservation of valuable culturaltreasures.

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19

piled these declarations of support in a three-volume setand used them to broaden the LWCF constituency.

Petitions and Postcard Drives were utilizedthroughout the campaign, including an electronic peti-tion that brought the latest in technology to the conser-vation and recreation communities.The AmericansSaving American Places campaign saw the developmentof an additional web site and petition page for AHR thatguided grassroots groups toward advocacy for LWCF,while serving as a member generator for their ownorganizations. Petitions and postcards were also used atkey gatherings of conservation, recreation, and wildlifegroups. Innovative online strategies included gettingLWCF advocates to record a message on a 1-800 numberas to why they supported funding for the program.Themessages were sent to more than 700 radio stations acrossthe country for use in audio stories highlighting localLWCF projects.

Innovative Public Relations Campaigns celebrat-ed the breadth and depth of LWCF partners. Signed soc-cer balls from youth sports teams to miniature baseballbats and balls delivered to Capitol Hill and the media

with LWCF messageswere used in the cam-paign. LWCF sportspennants and flagswere used in coopera-tion during joint ral-lies with wildlifegroups that brought ineagles, hawks, andbirds of prey to educa-tion rallies and events.SGMA International’s

Letters, postcards, and electronic messages poured into elected officialsoffices across the spectrum to support conservation trust programs.

Soccer moms and coaches from around the country participated inthe 2000 Score a Goal for LWCF campaign organized by AHR’s TomSt. Hilaire.

and the Outdoor Industry Association’s annual Taste ofthe Outdoors educated key congressional staff on LWCFthrough outdoor and sports businesses.

The Picture Parks Campaign allowed LWCF sup-porters to send pictures of themselves at their favoriteparks, trails, or forests to Capitol Hill and statehousesacross the country. Many children heeded this call toaction and provided the bulk of the hundreds of storiestold through this campaign.

Celebrity and Key Opinion Leaders joined AHRat education rallies, testified on Capitol Hill, and partici-pated in media efforts. Gaylord Perry,Terrell Davis,TerryTempest Williams, Sharon Robinson, Fergie Jenkins,Donna De Verona, and Bette Midler added their voice tothe campaign through various media.An ad placed inmajor newspapers across the country, including The NewYork Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and TheWashington Post, was signed by 100 distinguishedAmericans, including Lady Bird Johnson,Nolan Ryan,Robert Redford, and Jimmy Buffett.

Finding Our Way to a Fully Funded LWCF � Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation

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The need to protect America’s natural landscapeand provide places for all Americans to recreateis even greater today than forty years ago whenLWCF was created. We have an obligation toprotect our expansive landscapes, diverse

wildlife, and beautiful lands. We have an obligation tomake sure our citizens have clean air, pure water, andplaces to be outdoors to enjoy active, healthy lifestyles.

Consider these alarming trends:� The Department of the Interior has estimated that

the backlog of identified land acquisitions forNational Parks,Wildlife Refuges, and Bureau of LandManagement areas exceeds $10 billion. This totaldoes not include needs of the Department ofAgriculture’s Forest Service.

� The fifty states and territories report an unmet needfor recreational facilities and parkland acquisition of$836,229,911 in 2004.

� 31% of U.S. adults are obese – up from 23% in thelate 1980s and 15% in the late 1970s.

� Employers and privately insured families spent $36.5billion on obesity-linked illnesses in 2002, up froman inflation-adjusted $3.6 billion in 1987.

� Most of the 956 US threatened and endangeredplant and animal species and the 3,902 candidates forlisting are in trouble because of habitat loss.

� The nation has lost 117 million acres of wetlands,and 90% of its ancient forest.

� There is a 72% increase in participation in youthsports organizations that rely on local community-based facilities from 1997 to 2000.

� Historic sites are being bulldozed, condo’d, and strip-malled at a rate of one acre an hour.

Based on these growing trends,AHR presents the fol-lowing recommendations to motivate public policy mak-ers, the funding community, and citizen activists to help

spark a new commitment to protect America’s treasuresand provide a healthier environment for the future.

Create a new Endowment for Conservation &Recreation1. The new endowment would serve as a federal insti-

tution whose core mission would be to advocate forthe Land and Water Conservation Fund, ForestLegacy, Conservation Easements, Urban Park andRecreation Recovery Program, and similar programsthat preserve and enhance America’s natural resourcesand provide public access to outdoor recreation.

2. The Endowment would be modeled on the NationalEndowments for the Arts and Humanities, andwould be an independent agency with authority tocoordinate land acquisition for federal land agencies.

3. The Endowment would be responsible for advocat-ing for a new budget category within theAdministration and Congress.The new budgetauthority would create a Conservation Trust Fundspending category that would include:

a. The Land and Water ConservationFund

b. Forest Legacyc. Conservation Easementsd. Conservation Land projects between

federal agenciese. Urban Park and Recreation

Recovery Programf. Reclamation of contaminated indus-

trial sites for reuse for recreation,parks, and wildlife

g. National Park Service NationalRecreation Fund

h. State Wildlife Grantsi. Historic Preservationj. Coastal Grants

Recommendations/Action Plan

AHR Report_2005 7/13/05 4:47 PM


Funding for the fund would include a portion of theon-land and off-shore mining and drilling activities,portion of the federal gas tax, health care savingsattributable to increased physical activities and pre-vention, and other appropriate measures.

4. The Endowment would be authorized to be able toreceive private charitable gifts that could be used tomatch federal, state and local projects.

5. The Endowment would administer the annualappropriations and grants to states and the federalland agencies. In that capacity, the Endowmentwould prioritize the annual acquisitions needs of theland agencies, and provide Congress with a detailedreport of need and expenditures.

6. The Endowment would also serve in an oversightfunction to leverage resources to allow federal, state,and local lands to complement each other and pro-vide a streamline mechanism to allow conservationland packages to be better used for consolidation.

7. The Endowment would modernize the planningprocess required by states, known as the StatewideComprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans(SCORPS) and work to establish a national cost-benefit index to evaluate and recognize the value ofconservation and recreation in providing the nationwith economic, health, and natural resource benefits.

Leadership Development1. An Advisory Council of Citizens to the

Endowment, representing various conservation andrecreation interests, would be appointed by thePresident, with consent of the Senate, and wouldinclude elected officials at the local, state, and federallevel.

2. Establishment of a bi-partisan Conservation &Recreation Caucus in the House and Senate wouldoccur that would lead policy and legislative efforts, toinclude budget and appropriations matters.

3. Establishment of a bi-partisan Governor’sConservation and Recreation Task Force wouldoccur that brings together state park, wildlife, smartgrowth, and public health policy experts to coordi-nate state efforts, best practices, and share local andstate bond initiatives.

4. Expansion would occur of Celebrate Great OutdoorsMonth in May that currently celebrates the Nation’snatural heritage, reaffirms commitment to conserveour environment and honor the many volunteersthat help maintain our recreational and naturalspaces.

Establish a Broad-based Coalition, Re-CreatedAHRIn order to secure a long-term federal commitment toconservation and recreation programs, a broader-basedorganization will need to emerge from the LWCF cam-paign, one that goes beyond the current AHR structureto encompass the full spectrum of advocates for parks,wildlife areas, coastal regions, historic places, ballfields,and livable communities.The overarching goal of theorganization should be to advocate for the creation of aNational Endowment for Conservation and Recreationthat would administer programs sacred to millions ofAmericans.The breadth and depth of this organizationwould require the participation of Americans from allwalks of life, connecting residents from urban, suburban,and rural communities into an effective common voicethat would mark the broadest movement ever for conser-vation and recreation enhancement.

Key to the success of this campaign will be the commit-ment of leadership organizations to provide the newly-structured AHR with a steady stream of annual opera-tional funds, as well as to secure multi-year foundation,business, and corporate support.

AHR Report_2005 7/13/05 4:47 PM


Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation

A Sampling of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Team

• U.S. Conference of Mayors • SGMA, International • The Nature Conservancy • Outdoor Industry

Association • Trust for Public Land • Appalachian Mountain

Club • Arizona State Parks • American LANDS

Alliance • US Soccer Foundation • National Parks

Conservation Association • Izaak Walton League of

America, Inc.• The Conservation Fund • The Wilderness Society • American Hiking Society • National Council of Youth

Sports • National Recreation and

Park Association • Defenders of Wildlife • Restore America’s

Estuaries• World Wildlife Fund• Partnership for the

National Trails System• Northern Forest Alliance• Natural Resources

Defense Council

• CA State Department ofParks and Recreation

• Desert Tortoise ReserveCommittee, Inc.

• CA Trails and GreenwaysFoundation

• New Jersey AudubonSociety

• Peninsula Open SpaceLand Trust

• Iowa Natural HeritageFoundation

• Coon Creek RestorationProject

• Frontera Audubon• Save the Redwoods

League• The Park People, Inc.• National Audubon Society • Land Trust Alliance• Louisville & Jefferson

County Parks Dept.• Martinez Regional Land

Trust• Pop Warner Little Scholars • Angeles Chapter of Sierra

Club• Green Acres Program • TX Parks and Wildlife

Dept.• NJ Dept. of

Environmental Protection

• CA Parks and RecreationSociety

• Friends of the ColumbiaGorge

• Potomac Appalachian TrailClub

• City Parks Alliance• Amateur Athletic Union• International Mountain

Bicycling Association• National Trust for Historic

Preservation• Environmental Advocates • WA Interagency

Committee for OutdoorRecreation

• National Association forService and ConservationCorps

• American CanoeAssociation

• DE Department ofNatural Resources

• San Francisco Bay JointVenture

• Suffolk CountyConservation District

• Garden Club of America• Dixie Softball• Natural Resources

Council of America• MD Wildlands Committee • Worchester Environmental

Trust• Little League Baseball• Save Open Space

• Portland Parks andRecreation

• Deep Creek Open SpaceCoalition

• Anza-Borrego Foundation • The Wilderness Land

Trust• American Society of

Landscape Architects• National Association of

State Outdoor RecreationLiaison Officers

• National Association ofOlmsted Parks

• New York Rivers United • New York Audubon• TX Recreation and Park

Society• American Land

Conservancy• The Ocean Conservancy• American Whitewater• National Association for

African AmericanHeritage Preservation

• National Association ofState Park Directors

• 1000 Friends of Oregon• National Association of

County Parks andRecreation Officials

• Idaho Foundation forParks and Land

• National Center forHeritage Development

• River Network

1,000 organizations, agencies, & businesses5,000 partners, allies, & coalitions

AHR Report_2005 7/13/05 4:47 PM


• Friends of Buford Parkand Mt. Pisgah

• National Association ofPolice Athletic Leagues

• PONY Baseball/Softball• Ultimate Players

Association• American Rivers• Back Country Horsemen

of America• Civil War Preservation

Trust• Continental Divide Trail

Alliance• Trout Unlimited• Appalachian Trail

Conservancy• National Wildlife

Federation• Scenic America• REP America• NC Parks and Recreation

Society• Access Fund• Winter Wildlands Alliance • American Planning

Association• WV Highlands

Conservancy • Parks and People

Foundation• Prospect Park Alliance• Smart Growth America• National Association of

Recreation and ResourcePlanners

• East Coast GreenwayAlliance

• NJ Chapter Sierra Club• American Trails• New York Conference of

Mayors• CA Planning and

Conservation League• Housatonic Environmental

Action League• Maine Natural Resources

Council• Friends of Blackwater

Canyon• IL Association of Park

Districts• Parks and Trails New York • Philadelphia Parks Alliance • National Coalition for

Promoting PhysicalActivity

• National Audubon NM• FL Wildlife Federation• Muir Heritage Land Trust • Midpeninsula Regional

Open Space District• Endangered Habitats

League• East Bay Regional Park

District• Fly Fishers Association• CO Environmental

Coalition• Great Outdoors Colorado • 1000 Friends of Florida• ID Conservation League

• Coalition to RestoreCoastal Louisiana

• MI Land Use Institute• Environmental Coalition

of Mississippi• Forest Park Forever• Greater Yellowstone

Coalition• Society for the Protection

of NH Forests• Adirondack Council• Scenic Hudson• Southern Environmental

Law Center• Columbus Recreation and

Parks• SC Coastal Conservation

League• 1,000 Friends of

Washington• Bama Environmental

News• National Spa and Pool

Institute• Morris Parks and Land

Conservancy• New York State Office of

Parks, Recreation, andHistoric Preservation

• National Conference ofState HistoricPreservation Officers

• Chesapeake BayFoundation

• Southern AppalachianForest Coalition

• Friends of the Earth

• Urban Open SpaceFoundation

• FL Division of Recreationand Parks

• People for a Golden GateNational Recreation Area

• National AudubonSociety of New York State

• UT Dept. of NaturalResources, Division ofParks and Recreation

• Southeren AppalachianBiodiveresity Project

• New York-New JerseyTrail Conference

• Nantahala OutdoorCenter

• Sonoran Institute• Connecticut Audubon

Society• Gravure• REI, Inc.• Mad River Canoes• Empire State Task Force

on Land and Water• Governor’s Council on

New Jersey Outdoors• Boston Preservation

Alliance• American Youth Soccer

Association• US Youth Soccer

AHR Report_2005 7/13/05 4:47 PM


LAURANCE S. ROCKEFELLER, Honorary Chair,2002—2004

HENRY DIAMOND, Beveridge & Diamond, Chair,2002—2005

MYRNA JOHNSON, Outdoor Industry Association,Chair, 2001—2002

RINDY O’BRIEN, The Wilderness Society,Co-Chair, 1998—2000

STEVE BLACKMER, Northern Forest Center,Co-Chair, 1998—2000

DONALD MURPHY, Hearst Castle Monument,Co-Chair, 1998—2000

THE HONORABLE VICTOR ASHE, former Mayor ofKnoxville,TN

MARY BETH BEETHAM, Defenders of WildlifeTOM CASSIDY, The Nature ConservancyCHUCK CLUSEN, Natural Resources Defense CouncilKEVIN COLLINS, National Parks Conservation

AssociationANDI COLNES, Northern Forest AllianceTOM COVE, SGMA InternationalTRUDY COXE, Newport Mansions SocietyGLORIA FAUSS, The Nature ConservancyALAN FRONT, Trust for Public Land

HERB GIOBBI, US Soccer FoundationSUE GUNN, The Wilderness SocietyPAUL HANSEN, Izaak Walton League of America, Inc.DESTRY JARVIS, National Recreation and Park

AssociationCHARLES JORDAN, The Conservation FundLESLEY KANE, Trust for Public LandCRAIG KARR, WI Department of Natural ResourcesTOM KIERNAN, National Parks Conservation AssociationSTEVE KINBURG, Restore America’s EstuariesBILL MEADOWS, The Wilderness SocietyCOURTLAND NELSON, UT State ParksPAT NOONAN, The Conservation FundCAROL SEBASTIAN, American LANDS AllianceMARY MARGARET SLOAN, American Hiking SocietyTOM STEINBACH, Appalachian Mountain ClubJOHN THORNER, National Recreation and Park

AssociationBARRY TINDALL, National Recreation and Park

AssociationRON TIPTON, World Wildlife FundKEN TRAVOUS, AZ State ParksDAVE TYAHLA, US Soccer FoundationGARY WERNER, Partnership for the National Trails

System

AHR Board Members 1998—2005

AHR Staff 1998—2005

TOM ST. HILAIRE, Executive Director, 2001—2005JANE DANOWITZ, Executive Director, 1998—2000RINDY O’BRIEN, Media ConsultantTIM MCINTOSH, Outreach AssociateRACHEL GOLDWASSER, Outreach AssociateJEFF MORTON, Outreach AssociateEVELYN MACKRELLA, Outreach AssociateKELLY O’NEAL, Outreach AssociatePAT SANGER, Coordinator (1997)

PAT BYINGTON, Southeast Regional OrganizerJOE LATOURRETTE, Pacific Northwest Regional OrganizerTOM GILBERT, Mid-Atlantic Regional OrganizerJARED BOIGON, Rocky Mountain Regional OrganizerPETER MCKEEVER, Heartland Regional OrganizerTHERESE CASPER, California Regional OrganizerBILL ALMQUIST, InternALANA STAMOS, InternKELVIN RANDALL, Intern

AHR Report_2005 7/13/05 4:47 PM

AHR wishes to thank the following organizations, agencies, businesses, and foun-dations for supporting the organization’s grassroots campaign work, includingnational summits and micro-summits, web site and electronic organizing enhance-ment, regional organizer recruitment and development, coalition building, policyresearch, educational materials, communications strategy, and in-kind services:

• NYS Office of Parks, Recreation,and Historic Preservation

• Park and Conservation Society • Scenic Hudson• NY Recreation and Park Society• The Canal Corporation• Conservation Council of North

Carolina• Friends of State Parks (NC)• NC Division of Parks and

Recreation• NC Parks and Recreation Society• Recreation Resource Services• Southern Appalachian Forest

Coalition• Southern Environmental Law

Center• Maricopa County Arizona• Tucson Parks and Recreation• Allston/Brighton CDC• Alternatives for Community and

Development• Boston Natural Areas Fund• Boston Urban Gardeners• Boston GreenSpace Alliance• Boston Parks and Recreation

Department• Boston Preservation Alliance• Boston Redevelopment Authority• Boston Schoolyard Initiative:A

Public-Private Partnership• Commission on Prophetic

Ministries of the Mass. EpiscopalDiocese

• Garden Futures• Greater Boston Urban Resources

Partnership•• Massachusetts Executive Office of

Environmental Affairs • Roxbury Action Group• The Food Project• Urban Edge• Governor’s Council on New Jersey

Outdoors• Association of NJ Environmental

Commissions• Delaware and Raritan Greenway• Friends of Monmouth Battlefield• Grassroots Environmental

Effectiveness Network• Great Swamp Watershed Association • Greater Newark Conservancy

• Isles, Inc.• Monmouth Conservation

Foundation• Morris Land Conservancy• The Nature Conservancy of NJ• New Jersey-American Water

Company• NJ Audubon Society• NJ Conservation Foundation• NJ Forestry Association• NJ Future • NJ Historical Society• NJ Historic Trust• NJ Recreation & Park Association• NJ State Federation of Sportsmen’s

Clubs• NJ State Council of Trout

Unlimited• NJ State League of Municipalities• NY-NJ Trail Conference• Palisades Interstate Park

Commission • Passiac River Coalition• Pinelands Preservation Alliance• Preservation New Jersey• PSE&G• Regional Plan Association• Schoor DePalma Engineering • Sierra Club-NJ Chapter• Washington Recreation and Park

Association• Washington Wildlife Federation• Pacific Rivers Council• Bay Area Open Space Council • Bay Institute of SF• Bay Keeper• CA League of Conservation Voters• Clean Water Action• Friends of the River• Greenbelt Alliance• Mid-Peninsula Regional Open

Space District• National Trust for Historic

Preservation• Natural Resources Defense Council • Planet Drum Foundation• SF Friends of the Urban Forest• SF Bay Joint Venture• Tides Foundation• SF League of Urban Gardeners

Major Donors for the LWCF Campaign• THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS• AMERICAN CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION• SURDNA FOUNDATION• PENINSULA FOUNDATION• HEARST CASTLE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION• THE DAVID AND LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION• MERCK FAMILY FUND• TURNER FOUNDATION• HENRY P. KENDALL FOUNDATION• BULLITT FOUNDATION• WYSS FOUNDATION• LSR FUND• JACKSON HOLE PRESERVE, INC.• THE CURTIS AND EDITH MUNSON FOUNDATION• THE CATTO CHARITABLE FOUNDATION• THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY• THE CONSERVATION FUND• REI, INC.• NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE OUTDOOR

RECREATION LIAISON OFFICERS• NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

STATE PARK DIRECTORS• SGMA INTERNATIONAL• TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND• THE NATURE CONSERVANCY• US SOCCER FOUNDATION• DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE• THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION• OUTDOOR INDUSRTY ASSOCIATION• NATIONALRECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION

• Northern Forest Alliance• National Parks Conservation

Association• Appalachian Mountain Club• Portland Parks and Recreation• American Hiking Society• Izaak Walton League of America, Inc.• American Society of Landscape

Architects• National Park Service• Arizona State Parks• John F. Long Foundation• New Mexico State Parks

• SW Consolidated Sportsmen• New Mexico Recreation and Parks

Association• National Coalition for Promoting

Physical Activity• National Audubon Society NYS • Rockefeller Funds• NYS Conference of Mayors and

Municipal Officials• NYS Department of Environmental

Conservation• NYS Department of State

AHR Report_2005 7/13/05 4:47 PM Page C3

Finding Our Way to a Fully Funded LWCF

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Transcript of Finding Our Way to a Fully Funded LWCF