US Dept of the Interior_Mississippi Trail,~jU~1
United States Department of the Interior
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Office of the Director
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240 ;: ~ , i,.,
The Honorable Charles E. Grassley .
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Grassley:
Thank you for your Apri13, 20071etter expressing your support for the Mississippi River
Trail as a National Park Centennial project. As the National Park Centennial
Coordinator, I have been asked to respond. to your letter.
As you maybe aware, the National Park Service just completed 47 public listening
sessions across the country where the Secretary of the Interior, the National Park Service
Director, and other National Park Service officials asked the American people for ideas
for Centennial signature projects that will shape the National Park System for the next
century. Currently, the Director of the National Park Service and the Secretary are
preparing a report for the President that will outline a list of signature projects and
programs eligible for funding under the Centennial Challenge, drawing on ideas
generated through listening sessions, public engagement, and the input of National Park
Service professionals. Additional projects maybe added to the list from time to time, as
necessary. We are pleased to let you know that the Mississippi River Trail proposal is
among those projects now being evaluated.
Sincerely,
Step . Whitesell
National Park Centennial Coordinator