Members of the Board of the Friends of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park – Los Alamos gathered Friday afternoon for a special signing ceremony with the National Park Service at the powerhouse (stone house) on Bathtub Row. Back row from left, Ranger Josh Nelson and Board members Carol A. Clark, Los Alamos Daily Post Publisher; LACDC Executive Director Patrick Sullivan; Vice President/County Councilor Rick Reiss; Treasurer Ron Wilkins; Metzger’s General Manager David Jolly; Shannon Corporation owner Shannon C’de Baca and Karen Henderson. Front row from left, Tracy Adkins, DOE liaison; Board President Kristin Henderson, Linda Deck, Bradbury Science Museum director; MPNHP Superintendent Kris Kirby and Heather McClenahan, Los Alamos Historical Society executive director. Board members not pictured, former Councilor Fran Berting, Dr. Ben Neal, Heidi Rogers and Zia Credit Union CEO/President David Woodruff. Photo by Allison Scott Majure/N3B Los Alamos
Los Alamos Friends Group President Kristin Henderson, left, and MPNHP Superintendent Kris Kirby sign the Philanthropic Partnership Agreement at a special signing ceremony Friday on Bathtub Row. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
The Philanthropic Partnership Agreement is sign and Los Alamos Friends Group President Kristin Henderson, left, and MPNHP Superintendent Kris Kirby are all smiles at a special signing ceremony Friday on Bathtub Row. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Staff Report
A special signing ceremony took place Friday afternoon in the small stone house on Bathtub Row. Superintendent Kris Kirby, representing the National Park Service (NPS) and Kristin Henderson on behalf of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park – Los Alamos Friends Group signed a Philanthropic Partnership Agreement between the two organizations to provide the legal and policy framework supporting the achievement of mutual goals and funding needs of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park (MAPR).
Established Nov. 10, 2015, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park is managed through a collaborative partnership by the NPS and the US Department of Energy to preserve, interpret, and facilitate access to key historic resources associated with the Manhattan Project. It works to conserve historic sites and artifacts that played a key role in the dawn of the nuclear era, and help tell the story of the creation of the world’s first atomic bomb and its consequences for society.
The Manhattan Project National Historical Park – Los Alamos Friends Group was created last year to support the efforts of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.
The NPS recognizes private philanthropy as both a noble tradition for establishment and support of national parks and a vital element of the success of today’s National Park System.
A number of national parks exist because motivated citizens contributed time, talent, and funds to create them. Gifts of land or easements have helped establish or enlarge many parks. Donated artifacts enrich park stories in visitor centers and museums across the nation.
Philanthropic support helps fund trail improvements, park improvements, youth programs, interpretation, site and species recovery, and other critical park functions. Philanthropy offers people opportunities to participate actively in the creation and care of their national parks in the 21st century. The NPS embraces philanthropic support as a key strategy for stewardship of the parks and programs entrusted to its care. The NPS and partners promote partnerships as a way to accomplish mutual goals, leverage resources, increase productivity and collective competencies, and nurture a supportive and collaborative culture for the benefit of parks and the public.
