NPS Housing

NPS Strategic Housing Investment Plan: connecting workers at beloved parks to new and revitalized living accommodations.

Red Bridge worked collaboratively with NPS and the National Park Foundation to address ongoing workforce housing challenges in 14 national parks across the country. Working closely with leadership staff and housing experts at each park, RBG gathered information to understand each unique set of considerations, then completed assessments and proposed strategies for each park to secure safe and viable staff housing, enabling successful recruitment and retention of staff, partners, and volunteers.

For each park, a Core Team comprised of NPS, NPF, Regional Housing Office, and respective park personnel, along with Red Bridge staff, convened to form a customized approach to the study of their park’s housing. Park leadership joined the Core Team at critical decision-making points throughout this process. A set of strategies were developed that increases availability of workforce housing.

Red Bridge team members Cathie Barner, Naomi Porat, Joanna Julian, Dove Pope, Joy Marschall, and Liz Pittinos collaborated closely with the National Park Foundation to develop viable strategies. Participating national parks included:
Phase I: Acadia, Gateway, Grand Canyon, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and Yosemite
Phase II: Cuyahoga Valley, Great Basin, Great Smokies, Indiana Dunes, San Juan Island and a cohort of four South Florida parks: Big Cypress, Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades