Urban Superintendents' Conference Report, June 8-12, 1987 New York City

Early in 1987, William Penn Mott, Director of the National Park Service, identified the need for a unique conference to define and examine the special opportunities and responsibilities associated with managing the National Park Service's urban parks and recreation areas and to make specific recommendations relative to the National Park Service's obligations in fulfilling urban park and recreational needs in the 21st century. Director Mott called upon his Special Assistant for Park Initiatives, Robert Nunn, and North Atlantic Regional Director, Herbert S. Cables, to provide the leadership required to develop and organize the Service's first Urban Superintendents' Conference. Under their leadership, a conference task force was assembled which included superintendents, as well as regional office and Washington Office staff members. The task force formulated the basic objectives and agenda for the conference. The National Park Service's first Urban Superintendents' Conference was opened by Director William Penn Mott at the Sheraton Center in New York City on the evening of June 8, 1987. More than 120 participants were in attendance for the opening of the five-day conference, which included an all-day field trip to Gateway National Recreation Area. The conference closed on Friday, the 12th. Superintendents from the Service's urban park areas, Regional Directors, representatives of the Washington Directorate, and other National Park Service officials were in attendance. They were joined by representatives of federal, state, county and municipal agencies, academic institutions and the private sector. This report documents the highlights of the panels and sessions and records the specific participant recommendations of this very unique and important conference.