The governor said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell suggested the trip as the federal agency has been planning celebrations throughout the country this year to mark its centennial. Next, Emmylou Harris and a stage filled with musicians sang Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” as the crowd sang along.
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The properties in the National Parks System nearest to Ohio University are Hopewell National Historical Park, about one hour away from Athens in Chillicothe, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Cleveland.
The newest addition is the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in ME, which President Obama designated on Wednesday.
It is called the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. There now is no fee. Encouraging people from all backgrounds to celebrate and support America’s national parks and community-based programs, #FindYourPark continues to invite people to discover and share their own unique connections to our nation’s natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history.
So if you can’t quite get away from your desk to celebrate the National Park Service this weekend, you can at least bring a bit of the parks to you.
Authorities closed a portion of the popular Beartooth Highway to the park’s northeast entrance Wednesday night because of snow and ice from a summer snowstorm, but the road reopened Thursday morning. Visitors heading to Thursday’s celebration and concert at the Roosevelt Arch from the south faced an hourlong detour into Idaho. Jewell said climate change is a concern for the future of other national parks from Alaska to the Florida Everglades.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee, Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky are also relatively close.
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Glacier Park officials say in order for the park to move forward the next 100 years they need to come up with solutions to handle increased visitation, new recreational experiences and adjust to rapidly evolving technology. Some parks are serving birthday cake and offering ranger talks for the occasion.
