A national park is an area that has been set aside and declared a national Park by national or state government in order to preserve and protect the natural resources, historical areas, natural beauty and wonders of the land, and wildlife in that area from being developed, over used and over hunted by humans. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Commission on Protected Areas work to keep the National Parks unscathed by change and development of humans and to ensure that every piece of land that needs to be protected is protected.

Here are some rules and requirements for national parks today.

1. The park must consist of at least 1,000 acres.
2. The park must be protected by law.
3. Money and people must be available to protect the area.
4. The land must have ecosystems that are natural and not formed by human hands.
5. The park has plants, animals, and/or certain parts of the land in the area that are in danger of becoming extinct, or are worthy of scientific study, educational interest, or of recreational interest.
6. A national park must be governed in such a manner as not to allow the damage or over use of the land or ecosystems.

The IUCN set the standard for what a piece of land has to be like in order to qualify as a National Park. The rules are fairly simple ones, but they work very well. While this may seem like a lot of rules and requirements, they are necessary to ensure that the Nations Parks can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Some Interesting Historical Facts About National Parks

The first area to be deemed a National Park was the very famous Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, also known as Old Yellowstone by some. During the years of the old west when railroads were being built and people were heading west, Wyoming residents became concerned that the new settlers would move into the beautiful territory and destroy all of the beauty in the area of Yellowstone.

Their concern was brought before the Federal Government of that day, and the first National Park was created in 1872. Thanks to the people of Wyoming and the Federal Government of that time, there are now 394 National Parks in the United States and 1,842 in the entire world for people to visit, enjoy, and become more educated about the wildlife and natural beauty that has been protected and preserved for so long.

In 1932 President Andrew Jackson signed the first legislation to protect four different sections of property in Arkansas from settlements that were growing fast and destroying the natural beauty of the land. At that time those properties were called the Hot Springs Reservation; today they are known as Hot Springs, Arkansas.

National Parks welcome visitors and vacationers alike with campgrounds, visitor centers, guided tours and much more to help educate and allow people to enjoy the natural beauty of the land and the wildlife therein.

RECLAIMING OUR WATERFRONT PARKS

Catalyst supports local community involvement to revitalize three waterfront park sites: East River Park (Manhattan), Soundview Park (Bronx), and Calvert Vaux and Kaiser Parks (Brooklyn). Catalyst is a project of Partnerships for Parks, a joint program of City Parks Foundation and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Grant description:

The Catalyst grant is intended to help you reclaim your park by supporting programming, recreation, education, and waterfront activities in one of the above referenced parks. Potential projects include, but are not limited to, health and well-being projects involving biking, walking, yoga, tai chi, meditation, dance, etc.; waterfront-specific activities such as water ecology workshops; community visioning activities such as neighborhood tours, mapping, and story-telling projects that connect residents to local history and to the park; art programs and performances; and volunteer projects like gardening, tree care, and field maintenance. Projects with the potential to be replicated or to become regular park programs will receive preference. Between five and ten grants per Catalyst site will be awarded, ranging from $500 to $1,000.

Who May Apply?

Any group is welcome to apply. Preference will be given to local groups with yearly budgets under $100,000 and to groups that partner with other local groups.

Requirements:

All applicants are required to attend a Grant Orientation Meeting: Wednesday, January 19th 5pm at Soundview Branch Library, 660 Soundview Avenue, Bronx NY 10473. We will not accept applications from groups that do not participate in the Grant Orientation Meeting.
Provide proof of your 501(c)(3) status or a letter and proof of 501(c)(3)status from your fiscal sponsor. If you do not have either form of documentation and are interested in this grant program, please contact us.
Projects must promote programming, recreation, education, and waterfront activities.
All activities must be free and open to the public.
Projects must be completed by February 15, 2012
Grant recipients must meet with their Catalyst Coordinator twice during the grant term; once for a project planning consultation and once for a project reporting consultation.
Grantees must document their project with photos, video, and/or written accounts. By March 15, 2012, grantees must submit a final report, including a one-page narrative and a fiscal accounting, including receipts and/or invoices for costs incurred.
Grantees must credit the Catalyst Project, Partnerships for Parks, and the current list of funders (which we will supply) on all promotional materials.
How to Apply:

Fill out the application and include proof of 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship. Applications should be mailed to: