News Release:Grant and Personnel Changes

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Announces
Grant and Personnel Changes

Kansas, January 4, 2001 - The National Park Trust announced today that Project Coordinator, Bob McKeal of Strong City, Kansas, will be leaving the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in mid-January to become the Rocky Mountain Regional Coordinator. “Bob, who has been at the Preserve for more than five years, will be moving to Denver, Colorado, to establish a new regional office for the National Park Trust, said Paul Pritchard, president of the National Park Trust. He has been a great manager and worked his way to the top of our efforts in Kansas.”

"Having lived in here for over six years, I will miss the people of Chase County very much,” concluded McKeal. “I have made some great friendships here. I will still be involved with the Preserve in my new position and will be coming back often to visit family and friends.”

Louise Carlin of Council Grove has been appointed as the new Park Educational Resource Center (PERC) Coordinator. In addition to overseeing the bookstore operation, Louise will be assuming the project coordinator’s responsibilities upon McKeal’s departure. “Louise is a leader in the community and a proven manager. We are proud to have her join our team,” said Pritchard.

A reception to welcome Louise to the community will be held on January 8^th at 9:00 a.m. at the Emma Chase Café. Everyone in the community is invited to come meet Louise and say goodbye to Bob. Sue Smith of the Emma Chase Café and Charley and Carol Klamm of the Fiber Factory will be the hosts.

On December 5, 2000, the Acting Regional Director of the National Park Service signed the Record of Decision approving the General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The GMP/EIS, which has been under development for the past three years, sets the vision for Preserve management for the next 10-15 years. "With the final approval of the GMP, we can officially celebrate the establishment of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

So many people worked so hard on this, really over a 20-year period. Now those same dedicated individuals and organizations can take pride in this accomplishment. And all the citizens of Kansas can also feel proud that we have something in our state that doesn't exist anywhere else on earth: a national park in the prairie for all to enjoy, experience and learn from," remarked Paul Duffendack, Chairman, National Park Trust of Kansas, Vice-Chairman, National Park Trust, and member of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Advisory Committee.

In November, the National Park Trust kicked off a fundraising campaign to pay down the mortgage on the property, buy back portions of the grazing lease, and establish an educational endowment. Those who wish to make a contribution to this campaign can send a donation to Farmers and Drovers Bank, PO Box C, Council Grove, KS 66846, ATTN: National Park Trust. One of the goals identified in the General Management plan is restoration of the bottomland prairie area along Fox Creek. The Trust is pleased to announce that we received over $150,000 from Koch Industries to help with phase one of this project. The ground-breaking ceremony will be on June 2, 2001 and public is invited to attend.

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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. On November 12, 1996, legislation was passed creating the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (TPNP) in the Flint Hills of Kansas; the only unit of the National Park Service designated for the protection of the tallgrass ecosystem. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is a nationally significant example of the once vast tallgrass prairie ecosystem that covered nearly 400,000 square miles. The Preserve is located in northern Chase County, Kansas, in the heart of the Flint Hills. The legislation authorizing the Preserve states the purposes of the preserve are to preserve, protect and interpret for the public an example of tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The Preserve will remain in private ownership with the NPT but will be managed by the NPS under a cooperative agreement.