National Park Foundation and Nature Valley® Increase Access to 10,000 Miles of National Park Trails
WASHINGTON — National park programs and trails will benefit from the National Park Foundation’s partnership with Nature Valley for the Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque movement. Announced in January, Nature Valley’s support includes a three-year commitment and a donation of $3 million. This donation, in part, will provide funds to improve and restore critical parts of trails, resulting in better access to experience 10,000 miles of trails throughout the National Park System.
“When you restore trails, you open up endless opportunities for recreation and learning,” said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. “Nature Valley’s generous support enhances people’s national park experiences now and in the future.”
The commitment consists of a number of projects, including:
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico): Restoring 27 miles of the 100-mile Guadalupe Ridge Trail that extends from Carlsbad Caverns National Park into Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
- Natchez Trace Parkway (Tennessee): Restoring 25 critical miles of the Highland Rim Section of the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway.
- Shenandoah National Park (Virginia): Restoring key access points along 15 miles of the 2,180-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail that weaves through Shenandoah National Park.
For the above-mentioned projects, the National Park Foundation provided funding to Conservation Legacy, a nonprofit conservation corps program.
“At the very core of our brand is our belief that nature makes us better,” said Angela Rassi, director of marketing for Nature Valley. “As part of that belief, we seek to make the best of nature accessible to everyone. Increasing access to 10,000 miles of trails not only ensures that people can see the beauty of the national parks now, but future generations will have access to some of the most beautiful spaces in our country.”
The projects create a conservation and stewardship legacy, modernize infrastructure, increase access to recreational opportunities, and support partnerships with local communities.
Beyond funding these much-needed site-specific projects, the National Park Foundation and Nature Valley are also inspiring more people to #FindYourWay along trails and rivers across the country.
#FindYourWay is an extension of the #FindYourPark/#EncuentraTuParque movement and invites the public to discover their own personal connections to thousands of trails across the National Trails System and more than 12,000 miles of rivers protected by the Wild & Scenic Rivers System.
Learn more about the National Park Foundation at www.nationalparks.org and Nature Valley at www.naturevalley.com.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
Celebrating 50 years, the National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and ENGAGE the next generation of park stewards. In 2016, commemorating the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, the Foundation launched The Centennial Campaign for America’s National Parks, a comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the future of these national treasures for the next hundred years. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.
ABOUT NATURE VALLEY®
Nature Valley created the granola bar category in 1975 and is the #1 granola brand in the U.S. Bringing great taste to active consumers looking for wholesome snacks, Nature Valley offers 10 varieties of great-tasting granola snacks: Crunchy Granola Bars, Breakfast Biscuits, Sweet & Salty Nut Granola Bars, Protein Bars, Protein Granola, Greek Yogurt Protein Bars, Soft-Baked Oatmeal Squares, Granola Thins, Chewy Trail Mix Bars, Roasted Nut Crunch Bars, and Yogurt Granola Bars. Nature Valley® is part of the General Mills family of brands. General Mills has been making food people for over 150 years. Find out more about our efforts to take care of the earth for the next generation at www.generalmills.com