Title
Acknowledging the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service on August 25, 2016, and recognizing Philadelphia's important role in the National Park System.
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WHEREAS, The National Park Service was established on August 25, 1916, as an agency of the federal government charged with preserving the historical and ecological integrity of the places entrusted to its management while making them available and accessible for public use and enjoyment; and
WHEREAS, The National Park System comprises 410 units covering more than 84 million acres in every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, including national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House; and
WHEREAS, With the help of approximately 20,000 diverse professionals and 221,000 volunteers the National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations; and
WHEREAS, Among the National Park System's designations in Philadelphia are Independence National Historic Park, Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church National Historic Site, and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial; and
WHEREAS, The National Park Service's National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program has designated 14 Philadelphia sites and facilities as members, including the Amtrak Railroad Corridor; Belmont Mansion; Cliveden; Fair Hill Burial Ground; Johnson House; Independence National Historical Park; and Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church; and
WHEREAS, The National Park Service, through its Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program, has certified 181 projects in Philadelphia since 2015, representing over $1.26 billion in private investment in t...
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