Congress authorized the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network (CBGN) in 1998, under the administration of the National Park Service (NPS). Today, over 170 CBGN partners serve the public in every watershed state and the District of Columbia. Together we connect people to the natural and cultural heritage of the Chesapeake watershed.
Expanding public access has been a long-standing goal of NPS and its partners through the CBGN, and more recently through the Captain John Smith Chesapeake and Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trails. In the Strategy for Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the NPS made a commitment to work with federal, state, and local partners to expand public access to the Bay and rivers, in conjunction with the CBGN and the national trails. The strategy sets forth a goal of increasing public access by adding 300 new sites by 2025.
In fiscal year 2011, the NPS solicited applications for financial assistance for public access development projects and numerous proposals were received. However, the enacted FY11 budget did not include funding for CBGN and those applications were tabled. With appropriated funds included in the FY12 budget, those applications are now under consideration for awards.
Additional financial assistance applications are not being sought at present. However, additional solicitations for project proposals may be issued in the future as appropriations allow.
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