E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A General Management Plan Virtual Open House To attend this on-line open house, click “view,” then “slide show.” We want your comments on what kind of National Park Gateway should be. National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Gateway National Recreation Area

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Welcome to Gateway’s Virtual GMP Open House! Participants receive our GMP newsletter—also available in Spanish, Chinese and Russian. (Newsletter PDFs take awhile to open, especially those in other languages.) Participants receive our GMP newsletter—also available in Spanish, Chinese and Russian. (Newsletter PDFs take awhile to open, especially those in other languages.)newsletterSpanishChineseRussiannewsletterSpanishChineseRussian

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A What is a General Management Plan? A GMP is a plan that will guide decisions made at Gateway for the next 20 years. A GMP is a plan that will guide decisions made at Gateway for the next 20 years. It will combine your input with scholarly and scientific information and analysis. It will combine your input with scholarly and scientific information and analysis. Participants watched a PowerPoint and looked at posters before making their comments. Participants watched a PowerPoint and looked at posters before making their comments. NOTE: Most images have been taken out of the following documents. Still, they may take several minutes to download. NOTE: Most images have been taken out of the following documents. Still, they may take several minutes to download.

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Fundamental park resources Fundamental park resources include: Fundamental park resources Beaches and dunes at all three units Beaches and dunes at all three units Natural areas where wildlife lives, migrates at all three units Natural areas where wildlife lives, migrates at all three units Coastal defense structures at Forts Hancock, Tilden and Wadsworth Coastal defense structures at Forts Hancock, Tilden and Wadsworth Sandy Hook lighthouse and maritime forest Sandy Hook lighthouse and maritime forest Preservation must be consistent with park values Preservation must be consistent with park values

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Fundamental park valuesFundamental park values include: Fundamental park values Recreation: bird watching, fishing, swimming, boating, walking, bicycling, visiting historic sites Recreation: bird watching, fishing, swimming, boating, walking, bicycling, visiting historic sites Open space in a populated area Open space in a populated area Direct experience with nature Direct experience with nature Connections to national history Connections to national history

Primary interpretive themes include: Natural wonders, dynamics & challenges of an urban estuary Natural wonders, dynamics & challenges of an urban estuary Two centuries of national defense Two centuries of national defense Maritime heritage Maritime heritage Recreation & education: quality of urban life for all visitors Recreation & education: quality of urban life for all visitors E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Planning challengesPlanning challenges include: Planning challenges Water quality Water quality Wildlife/People conflicts Wildlife/People conflicts Disappearing sand, changing climate Disappearing sand, changing climate Preservation of buildings, structures Preservation of buildings, structures New audiences New audiences Visitor comforts Visitor comforts Access to the park Access to the park

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A “Preliminary Alternative Concepts” Several different approaches, called Preliminary Alternative Concepts, are being considered to preserve the park’s natural and cultural resources. Several different approaches, called Preliminary Alternative Concepts, are being considered to preserve the park’s natural and cultural resources. Each concept would steer the park in a different direction over the next 20 years. Each concept would steer the park in a different direction over the next 20 years.

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Concept 1: Discovering Gateway Discovering GatewayDiscovering Gateway New ways to experience, learn about natural areas. New ways to experience, learn about natural areas. More historic buildings open for interpretation, tours. More historic buildings open for interpretation, tours. Diverse recreational opportunities attract new audiences to visit (fishing lessons, kayaking, tours). Diverse recreational opportunities attract new audiences to visit (fishing lessons, kayaking, tours). Convenient and affordable ways to reach and move around the park by bike, boat, bus, car and ferry. Convenient and affordable ways to reach and move around the park by bike, boat, bus, car and ferry. Increased outreach to introduce Gateway NRA to a broader audience and to encourage more people to experience the park. Increased outreach to introduce Gateway NRA to a broader audience and to encourage more people to experience the park.

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Concept 2: Experiencing Preserved Places Experiencing Preserved PlacesExperiencing Preserved Places More emphasis on repair of damaged natural systems, degraded historic structures. More emphasis on repair of damaged natural systems, degraded historic structures. Recreation provides for enjoyment of the park’s natural and historic structures. Recreation provides for enjoyment of the park’s natural and historic structures. Energy-efficient transportation systems are introduced, encouraged Energy-efficient transportation systems are introduced, encouraged Emphasis on environmental education, hands-on stewardship activities and promoting sustainability. Emphasis on environmental education, hands-on stewardship activities and promoting sustainability.

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Concept 3: Coastal Connections Coastal ConnectionsCoastal Connections More maritime and coastal defense structures open. More maritime and coastal defense structures open. More attention to protection of coastal ecosystems. More attention to protection of coastal ecosystems. Programs, hands-on learning focus on historic structures, natural areas. Programs, hands-on learning focus on historic structures, natural areas. New and improved opportunities to recreate on the water and beaches (e.g. water craft storage and more launch sites). New and improved opportunities to recreate on the water and beaches (e.g. water craft storage and more launch sites). Easier to move around the park units via water transportation. Easier to move around the park units via water transportation.

Comparing the three concepts Comparing the three concepts Each concept includes the values of preserving natural and historic resources and making recreation available. Each concept includes the values of preserving natural and historic resources and making recreation available. Yet, each concept takes a different approach about what should be done and how to make it happen. Yet, each concept takes a different approach about what should be done and how to make it happen. E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Now it’s your turn! Now that you’ve seen the three Preliminary Alternative Concepts, tell us what you think! Please comment online. Now that you’ve seen the three Preliminary Alternative Concepts, tell us what you think! Please comment online. comment online comment online

Thanks for coming to our Virtual GMP Open House! Public comment is a vital step in making the decisions that will guide Gateway through its next two decades. Public comment is a vital step in making the decisions that will guide Gateway through its next two decades. The next step will take place in the summer of We hope you can join us then as well, either in person or online. The next step will take place in the summer of We hope you can join us then as well, either in person or online. E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Gateway National Recreation Area Superintendent 210 New York Avenue Staten Island, New York National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior