3.1.4.3 NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PARKS
Implementation
The National Park System has numerous designations within the National Park System. These units are created by Congressional legislation authorizing the sites or by the President, who proclaims “national monuments” under the Antiquities Act of 1966. Many names are descriptive---lakeshores, seashores, battlefields, but others cannot be neatly categorized because of the diversity of the resources within them. In 1970, Congress elaborated on the 1916 National Park Service Organic Act, saying all units of the system have equal legal standing in a national system. Rural Development policy is to not authorize, fund, or carry out any proposal that, as a result of identifiable impacts, direct or indirect, would lead to or accommodate either the conversion of these land uses or encroachment upon them. Whenever a proposed action is determined to have a potential for impacting a NPS Unit, or State Park, the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, or Bureau of Land Management, or Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation should be consulted as early in the environmental analysis process as possible to evaluate the possible consequences of and protection requirements necessary concerning the action.
If the action has the potential to impact or is adjacent to a National, State or Local Park the preparer of the environmental document must consult with individual(s) responsible for overseeing such areas in the state. Consultation shall be documented in the environmental assessment.
National Park [NP]
These are generally large natural places having a wide variety of attributes, at times including significant historic assets. Hunting, mining and consumptive activities are not authorized.
National Monument [NM]
The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorized the President to declare by public proclamation landmarks, structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest situated on lands owned or controlled by the government to be national monuments. The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorized the President to declare by public proclamation landmarks, structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest situated on lands owned or controlled by the government to be national monuments. The National Monument System was originally established under the National Park System to recognize areas of the United States with particularly distinctive visual, recreational, and cultural interest though on somewhat less of a grandiose scale than designated National Parks.
Proposed Rural Development actions in or near such areas merit special evaluation because of the sensitivity of the resources within them and their national prominence.
A listing of National Monument sites can be found at:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/hisnps/NPSHistory/antiq.htm
8/11/39 Fort McHenry(now Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine), MD
1/18/61 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, MD-WV
There are no sites designated in Delaware.
National Historic Site [NHS]
Usually, a national historic site contains a single historical feature that was directly associated with its subject. Derived from the Historic Sites Act of 1935, a number of historic sites were established by secretaries of the Interior, but most have been authorized by acts of Congress.
National Historic Park [NHP]
This designation generally applies to historic parks that extend beyond single properties or buildings.
National Memorial [NMem]
A national memorial is commemorative of a historic person or episode; it need not occupy a site historically connected with its subject.
National Battlefield [NB]
This general title includes national battlefield, national battlefield park, national battlefield site, and national military park. In 1958, an NPS committee recommended national battlefield as the single title for all such park lands.
Other Designations [OD]
Some units of the National Park System bear unique titles or combinations of titles, like the White House.
National Cemetery: There are presently 14 national cemeteries in the National Park System, all of which are administered in conjunction with an associated unit and are not accounted for separately.
National Recreation Areas:
National Recreation Areas were established by the National Parks and
Recreation Act of 1978 to recognize exceptional recreational areas warranting Federal ownership and management within the United States. Twelve NRAs in the National Park System are centered on large reservoirs and emphasize water-based recreation. Five other NRAs are located near major population centers. Such urban parks combine scarce open spaces with the preservation of significant historic resources and important natural areas in location that can provide outdoor recreation for a large number of people.
National Recreation Areas in Maryland:
Assateague Island National Seashore
Maryland and Virginia
The white sand beaches of this windswept barrier island are a major score for worshippers of sun and sea. This 37-mile-long paradise straddles the Maryland-Virginia border and derives its name from the Native American word that translates to "A Running Stream Between." The island is perhaps most famous for the wild horses that continue to roam the beaches since the late 17th century.
The Wild Horses of Assateague
Nineteen miles of wild shore are set aside for sunbathers, beachcombers, and hikers so that they can experience the island as it existed before colonization (and SUVs). Ocean swimmers and surfers will no doubt delight in the Atlantic's playful waves that continuously lap the shore. If you've never surfed, this is a good place to learn because you don't have to worry about 30-foot Hawaiian tsunamis taking you on the last ride of your life.
Surfcasters can expect blues and stripers to start biting in April. The kingfish and weakfish invasion begins in May. The battle of man versus fish continues throughout the summer and into autumn. Live bunker is the old-school bait of choice.
The nearest airports are Ocean City Municipal Airport and Salisbury-Wicomico County Regional Airport. Cars can access the Assateague Island National Seashore at two entrances: The north entrance is at the end of Route 611, eight miles south of Ocean City, Maryland, and the south entrance is at the end of Route 175, two miles from Chincoteague, Virginia.
There are no National Recreation Areas in Delaware.
Governing Regulations.
(1) National Park System General Authorities Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 825), as amended.
(2) National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 (92 Stat. 3518, 16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
(3) U.S. Executive Order 11514, Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality.
(4) National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321.
(5) Title 7, Part 1b and 1c, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s National Environmental Policy Act.
National Parkway: Parkway refers to a roadway and the parkland paralleling the roadway. All were intended for scenic motoring along a protected corridor and often connect cultural sites.
National Park: The National Park System of the United States is run by the National Park Service, a bureau of the Department of the Interior. Yellowstone, which was opened in 1872, was the first national park in the world. The system includes not only the most extraordinary and spectacular scenic exhibits in the United States, but also a large number of sites distinguished either for their historic importance, prehistoric importance, scientific interest, or for superior recreational assets. The National Park System is made up of 376 areas covering more than 83 million acres in every state except Delaware. It also includes areas in the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
National Preserve: National preserves are areas having characteristics associated with national Parks, but in which Congress has permitted continued public hunting, trapping, oil/gas exploration and extraction. Many existing national preserves, without sports hunting, would qualify for national park designation.
Obtain an up to date listing of National Parks at: http://www.nps.gov/ or http:///www.nps.gov/parks/html
Click on the appropriate state
Federal Department of Interior, National Park Service
Field Director, North-East Field Area
U.S. Customs House
200 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
(215) 597-7013.
B. STATE PARKS
DELAWARE
Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control
Delaware Div of Parks & Recreation
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-9000 - phone
email:
parkinfo@dnrec.state.de.us
http://www.destateparks.com/ (click on places to go)
The Division of Parks and Recreation is responsible for managing more than 16,000 acres of natural, recreational, historical and culturally significant lands throughout Delaware including 13 state parks and 10 preserves along with smaller specialized areas. The Division also administers the state’s Greenways and Open Space programs to preserve open land and green corridors throughout the state. The Division is also responsible for providing educational, cultural and recreational opportunities.
The Technical Services Section maintains a list of maps.
MARYLAND
Maryland State Park & Forest Service
Tawes State Office Bldg
580 Taylor Avenue, Room E3
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 260-8186 - phone
(410) 260-8191 - fax
(800) 830-3974
dnr@gacc.com
To locate all State Parks and Wildlife Management Areas in Maryland:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/all.html
Because of Maryland's diverse geography, State parks offer a variety of recreation from snow skiing to ocean fishing. Most of them are open to the public, sunrise to sunset, from April through October.
The Maryland Park Service of the Department of Natural Resources is responsible for and maintains some forty State parks covering 90,239 acres. These include:
13 parks with tidal waterfront
8 parks with recreational lakes open to public fishing and boating
20 State parks open to public hunting
7 natural environment areas containing 13,960 acres
Hikers at
Washington Monument State Park, Boonsboro, Maryland, February 2001. Photo by
Elizabeth W. Newell.
Public Lands in Western Maryland: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/wmaryland.html
Public Lands in Central Maryland:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/cmaryland.html
Public Lands in Eastern Maryland:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/emaryland.html
Public Lands in Southern Maryland:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/smaryland.html
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF) Act of 1965 (Public Law 88-578) was enacted to assist in preserving, developing and assuring accessibility to all citizens quality and such quantity of outdoor recreation resources as may be available and necessary. The L&WCF program provides matching grants to states and through the states to local governments, for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Planning grants are also available to the states to help develop and maintain the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and the process.
Federal The Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Field Director, NorthEast Field Area
U.S. Customs House, 200 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
(215) 597-7013.
Delaware: Division of Parks and Recreation
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
(302)739-9200
Maryland: Department of Natural Resources
Intergovernmental Coordinator
State Office Building
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
(410) 974-3705 The Intergovernmental Coordinator is responsible for the SCORP process and will make available a copy of the State Plan on request.
Governing Federal Regulations.
(a) U.S. Executive Order 11514, Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality.
(b) National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321.
(c) Title 7, Part 1b and 1c, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Environmental Policy Act.
LOCAL PARKS – CHECK WITH LOCAL DEPARTMENTS OF RECREATION AND PARKS
Contacts:
NNL web site: http://www1.nature.nps.gov/nnl/index.cfm
National Historic Landmark Program: http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/default.cfm
Agency Jurisdiction: State and Federal Level
Federal Department of Interior, National Park Service
Field Director, North-East Field Area
U.S. Customs House
200 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
(215) 597-7013.
Full text of Historic Sites Act of 1935 at:
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/