2007.08.02: August 2, 2007: Headlines: COS - Madagascar: parks: Seaside Signal: Madagascar RPCV David Szymanski is superintendent for the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
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2007.08.02: August 2, 2007: Headlines: COS - Madagascar: parks: Seaside Signal: Madagascar RPCV David Szymanski is superintendent for the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
Madagascar RPCV David Szymanski is superintendent for the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
Szymanski has compiled 16 years experience working in different aspects of park and natural resources management, including with the Everglades National Park in Florida and Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. He was also in the U.S. Peace Corps as a technical advisor for community planning in Madagascar. In a way, Szymanski has already started at his new post at the mouth of the Columbia River, even though he won’t officially begin until early October. One of the biggest topics in which Lewis and Clark National Park is involved is the push to have the region designated as a National Heritage Area. During the early stages of the campaign, Szymanski had been involved on the legislative side of things as part of his duties with the National Park Service. That involvement gave him the chance to meet some of the local officials leading the campaign.
Madagascar RPCV David Szymanski is superintendent for the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
New park superintendent ready to embark on latest excursion
by Rod Jones
(Created: Thursday, August 02, 2007)
It was a long road to become the next superintendent for the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, both in time and in distance. But David Szymanski, who was appointed to the position last week, is ready to travel from the East Coast to make the Pacific Northwest his new home.
"The people there are fantastic," Szymanski said from his current office at the National Parks department in Washington, D.C. "They have a real sense of pride for their area. My wife and I both liked the Northwest area when we lived there. As she would say, it’s her chance to wear fleece and flannel and still fit in."
Szymanski (pronounced szi-MANN-ski) was basing his opinion on the years he spent in Portland working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department in the late 1990s. Shortly before then, he worked in Hillsboro for a water treatment service.
Szymanski also has other ties to the area—he said he met his wife while the two were working in Oregon. She spent about six years here.
All together, Szymanski has compiled 16 years experience working in different aspects of park and natural resources management, including with the Everglades National Park in Florida and Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. He was also in the U.S. Peace Corps as a technical advisor for community planning in Madagascar.
In a way, Szymanski has already started at his new post at the mouth of the Columbia River, even though he won’t officially begin until early October. One of the biggest topics in which Lewis and Clark National Park is involved is the push to have the region designated as a National Heritage Area. During the early stages of the campaign, Szymanski had been involved on the legislative side of things as part of his duties with the National Park Service. That involvement gave him the chance to meet some of the local officials leading the campaign.
During the meetings with local officials, Szymanski said he was given a can of genuine Pacific Northwest smoked salmon.
"I still have it. I thought I would save it for a celebration once I got out there if I got the job," he said.
Szymanski is succeeding Chip Jenkins, who as the previous superintendent was one of the major players in getting the National Heritage Area designation campaign rolling. Jenkins transferred to a national park in northern Washington in April.
Szymanski said heritage area organizers appear to have started on the right foot. He said a project manager noted that the effort here could be used as a model for people in other regions.
"They’ve been good at coordinating with the national program first," he said.
He also expressed appreciation for the people and groups in the area for working so hard on the project early on, which now involves raising the necessary funds for an area-wide background study.
"The National Park Service supports the study bill. While the study will determine whether the area is worthy of designation, it certainly seems to have ingredients that make it a strong candidate," he stated in an e-mail message. "The area is rich in history—in Astoria alone, there are 60 properties on the national register of historic places and two national historic landmarks (Fort Astoria and the Lightship Columbia). Local communities are engaged and putting their energy and enthusiasm into the effort."
Likewise, Cyndi Mudge, executive director for Destination: The Pacific, was also pleased with the latest appointment. Mudge’s group is the organization behind the National Heritage Area campaign.
"They’ve (National Park Service) been very good at getting us good superintendents, including the interim. He seems very eager to work with us, and he comes with a lot of experience," she said.
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Headlines: August, 2007; Peace Corps Madagascar; Directory of Madagascar RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Madagascar RPCVs; Parks; Oregon
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Story Source: Seaside Signal
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