Tag: Overall

Next stop: Unit count and acreage overview

Now that I learned how the units within the National Park Service (NPS) are created and their high-level distinguishing characteristics, it is time to dig into the data. This brought an entirely new set of questions. How many units are there? What is the breakout by region? Does a specific region have more of one type of unit than another? What does the acreage profile look like for the NPS?

In order to explore these descriptive qualities, I created a Tableau visualization. The visualization allows the reader to explore and filter by a Grouped Unit Type (e.g., Some units such as National Battlefield, National Battlefield Park, and National Military Park are grouped under one unit) or by a Region. The regional breakout is by NPS Office regions. Using the color scheme of the visualization, the below map provides an illustration of the regional breakout.

US Map colored by NPS region

 

To play with a full size version of the visualization, go here.

 
An interesting discovery from this visualization was that the Intermountain range had more than two times the number of National Monuments than National Parks, even though we think of the region predominately for its National Parks. Another interesting discovery was that the Northeast had the most National Historical Parks and National Historic Sites, but the Northeast does not contain the most National Monuments or National Memorials. I believe this occurs because a significant amount of our National history is in close proximity within this region, which aligns to a grouping within the NPS system. For instance, most of the sights in Boston are all categorized under one unit, a National Historical Park. What did you discover?

Where to begin…

Before digging into all the National Park Service (NPS) data, my first goal was to understand the organization. I wanted to learn how something becomes part of the NPS (aka a Unit) and what the different designations signify. This provided me a way of understanding what I may learn or experience at each site.

Once a location is identified as a potential unit, the below flowchart outlines the general path it takes on its journey through our legislative and executive branches. Most NPS units are established via Congress, with National Monuments also able to be proclaimed independently by the President of the United States.

How are units added to the National Park Service?

 

How are units added to the NPS?

Source: Congressional Research Service: https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS20158.pdf


How are the National Park Service units organized and what are their characteristics?

From this I began reading about the different units within the NPS and one of my first questions was “What do all the unit designations mean? What are the differences between them?”  The first thing to understand is the required criteria for any unit of the NPS. The unit must be of national importance/significance and possess all the following standards:

  • Is an outstanding example of a particular type of resource
  • Possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the natural or cultural themes of our Nation’s heritage
  • Offers superlative opportunities for recreation for public use and enjoyment, or for scientific study.
  • Retains a high degree of integrity as a true, accurate, and relatively unspoiled example of the resource

There are many similarities between the unit designations. This chart illustrates the significant differences.

Breakout of NPS unit classifications
To see a full size version of the image click here.

In addition to the units captured in the image, there are two more units used by NPS:

  • National Parkway: A motor roadway that parallels parkland. It is seen as a scenic drive along a protected corridor. A parkway often connects multiple sites.
  • Other Designation: In some instances, a given location has a unique title or combination of titles.

The NPS partners with other organizations and government levels (e.g., state/local) to help with the “Affiliated areas”. These areas are not part of the NPS but help preserve other significant resources or history. Finally, during the life of a NPS location, the designations will shift based on restructuring, additional land/property inclusion, or park needs.

Source: NPS – Criteria for Parklands Brochure: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/files/Criteria%20for%20New%20Parklands.pdf
Source: Congressional Research Service: https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41816.pdf
Source: Wikipedia – NPS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_Service

 

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