The Dream Continues
America's National System of Parks

Legacy and Trust

These two words cannot be taken lightly. It took 10 years of effort before we claimed these attributes.

Some credited the National Park Trust (NPT) with these attributes long ago when we completed our first park at Ft. Laramie National Park. Since then we have finished five national parks. That’s a legacy.

Still others said we merited the recognition stated in our name when we became the first, and still only, charity that owns a national park, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. That’s trust.

During our existence, we have taken every property seriously, be it one acre or thousands. In over 100 different land protection efforts, we have bought, donated and worked to protect hallowed battlefields, critical wildlife habitat, scenic vistas and much more to the national parks and refuges.

Even though there are nearly six million privately owned acres within the existing national parks (and many more in national refuges and state parks), the loss of one acre can destroy the values that the park was established to protect. Imagine an abandoned silver mine of a few acres in the heart of Sequoia National Park that could have been bought and converted into an incredible second home, resort, you name it.

The National Park Service (NPS) could only pay a small amount. The owner justified a greater value. After years of negotiation, we made up the difference and bought the property, now part of the park.

And there are scores of other stories. This Legacy Report is devoted to the first 10 years of private charity status. We are proud of this Legacy. We have lived up to the trust that millions of donors have in us. We will leave a greater legacy in the next decade, because of that public trust.

Thank you!

               

PAUL C. PRITCHARD             STEVE MILLER
President                           Chairman of the Board

Table of Contents

• The Dream Continues – America’s National System of Parks
• National Park Trust – Years in the Making
• Inholdings and Critical Lands
• The Strategic Plan for the National Park Trust
• Update – Last Year’s Most Threatened State Parks
• NPT Project Timeline – A Short History
• The Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award
• Financial Report
• Summary – Projects for 2001
• Special Thanks

To obtain a copy of the report "Saving the Legacy of the National System of Parks", please write to: legacy@parktrust.org or 
contact National Park Trust, 202-548-0500.