STRONG CITY, KANSAS — On Tuesday, June 26, 2001, the National Park Trust (NPT) and the National Park Service (NPS) held a “Partnership for the Prairie Celebration” in honor of the completion of the General Management Plan (GMP) for the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

The Celebration was open to the public and was held at the Preserves headquarters in Strong City, Kansas. The celebration recognized the hard work of the employees of both NPT and NPS who have been working together for 30 months collecting public opinions and historical research in order to outline a plan that will direct how the park is developed and maintained.

Part of the GMP will be to plant native grass on 800 acres of land that is now grazed by cattle. “All we want to do is grow beautiful varieties of grass,” said Paul Pritchard, president of NPT. “Hopefully when people come, they won’t see their families, they will disappear in the tallgrass.” Pritchard said the groups next project will be to raise money to return bison to 1,000 acres of the prairie helping to return the area to its native spender.

Established in 1996 the Preserve is a unique unit in the national park system. It is the only park designed to preserve, protect, and educate Americans on the prairie, its people, and its wildlife. It is also the only unit of 379 parks to be paid for with private donations and to be privately owned.

The preserve is owned by NPT a private, non-profit organization, and is the only land conservancy dedicated to preserving America’s national system of parks, wildlife, and historic monuments, and is managed by the NPS, creating a unique public/private partnership between the two.

The celebration was kicked off with a commemorative ceremony acknowledging the completion of the GMP and all of those individuals who contributed to its completion and to the Preserve. Koch Industries was recognized at the ceremony for a significant donation that enabled the preserve to move forward with its management plans.

Roger Ramseyer, who accepted a plaque on behalf of Koch stated, “Today is a special day for all of us who are Kansans, and more importantly today is a special day for those of us who are Americans. To have a national park of this caliber located right in the heart of our state is very exciting.”

The Cloud Foundation in Kansas City, Mo., was also recognized for their contribution. The foundation donated an undisclosed amount to build the one-to-two-mile nature trail, which will be wheelchair accessible.

A reception and benefit barbeque were held in the evening to celebrate the Preserves future and to raise funds to help preserve the precious resources and implement the planning goals.

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Founded in 1983, National Park Trust is the only land conservancy dedicated to preserving our national system of parks, wildlife and historic monuments. 

Related Links:

• Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

• Proclamation by Governor Bill Graves

• Park Education Resource Center

• Governor of the State of Kansas