Rapid City Journal Covers NPF's Support to Badlands National Park
Rapid City Journal covers NPF’s lead grant, made possible by generous funding from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, to improve the visitor experience at Badlands National Park. Read an excerpt from the article, “Badlands to receive $5.2 million in funding for new visitor center,” below.
“The new center will provide park visitors with more opportunities to learn about Badlands National Park's natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources; improve scientific study and understanding of its paleontological and geological resources; and help people connect with the past and present history, culture, and heritage of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Lakota People.
The current Ben Reifel Visitor Center is located on the North side of the park near Cedar Pass. The center is named after Reifel, also known as Lone Feather, the first congressman elected with Lakota heritage, to represent the state's first congressional district.
‘The National Park Foundation is grateful to the Helmsley Charitable Trust for their investment in what will be a stellar visitor center experience that will welcome people to this stunning national park for generations to come,’ said Will Shafroth, National Park Foundation President and CEO. ‘This project is a true testament to what partnerships make possible.’”