333 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 921
Chicago, IL 60601
IL, IN, IA, KS, NE, OH, MI, MN, MO, SD, WI
Sweep over the stark Badlands of South Dakota, under the curve of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, along the shores of Indiana Dunes, and through the rugged wild of Isle Royale to gain a sense of the vast and diverse territory covered by NPCA's Midwest Regional Office. Spanning eleven states, the parks in this region reverberate with the stories of America, teaching us about our journey as a country, from our early residents to our presidents, and from tragic battles to triumphs of progress. In addition, they inspire us with their beauty, size, and natural resources. Building support for, and ensuring the protection of, these special places is the focus of NPCA’s Midwest Regional Office.
The Midwest regional team is based in Chicago, Illinois, with field offices in Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio. The diversity of this region’s parks means that the staff might spend one day fighting for the continued survival of wolves in the wilderness of Isle Royale National Park and the next day working to reimagine the future of the Mississippi River within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in the Twin Cities.
Because parks do not exist in isolation, the Midwest team works with the National Park Service and many landowners to protect parks in their landscapes. For example, within the Calumet Region along the shores of Lake Michigan from Pullman National Historical Park through the windswept dunes of Indiana Dunes National Park, NPCA brings public and private land managers together to solve conservation challenges, such as managing erosion and protecting wildlife and nature in this highly industrialized and fragmented landscape.
And after advocating diligently for the designation of Pullman, the team is working with hundreds of Chicago residents, businesses and government agencies to implement the award-winning vision Positioning Pullman, with a focus on advancing a cultural trail that will tell the history and untold stories of the park.
The Midwest Region is also home to the Great Lakes, the world’s largest freshwater lake system with ten national parks in five states. NPCA advocates for programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to support restoration efforts within and adjacent to these national parks.
NPCA recognizes all parks are on lands once and still used by indigenous communities. The Midwest Region is one of diverse tribal cultures and traditions that will not be overlooked or forgotten. NPCA recognizes the vital need to incorporate tribal voices and indigenous knowledge into management in our parks and will continue to advocate for co-management or other collaborative efforts between Midwest parks and tribes.
Cuyahoga Valley: What's in a Name?
Cuyahoga is the Mohawk word meaning “crooked river.”
Field Offices in the Midwest Region
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Minnesota Field Office
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- Address:
- Minneapolis
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- Phone:
- 612.270.8564
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Michigan Field Office
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- Address:
- Suttons Bay
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- Phone:
- 231.880.7031
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Ohio Field Office
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- Address:
- Cleveland
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- Phone:
- 216.956.3126
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More about the Midwest region
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Read more about Reimagining the Mississippi River
NPCA at Work Reimagining the Mississippi River Help support a healthy, accessible Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
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Read more about Isle Royale – A Unique Island for Wildlife
Victory Isle Royale – A Unique Island for Wildlife Isle Royale National Park is one of the most memorable, wild and unique national parks in the country. This remote island, located in the frigid waters of Lake Superior, is 99% federally designated wilderness and hosts the longest continuous study of any predator-prey system in the world.
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Read more about Positioning Pullman
NPCA at Work Positioning Pullman Pullman honors the unique stories of railroads in America’s industrial past, labor history — including formation of the first African American labor union, urban planning and development of the country’s first model industrial town.
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Read more about Sustaining Indiana Beaches
Resource Sustaining Indiana Beaches The scenic beaches of Indiana Dunes are disappearing. In order to sustain this critical asset to Indiana’s economy and quality of life, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must conduct a federal damage mitigation feasibility study.
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the parks within the system aim to tell the full American story and preserve these sites so those very stories live on for generations to come! — Chris & Alex
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Read more about An Uncertain Future for Our National Parks?
Blog Post An Uncertain Future for Our National Parks? NPCA and our supporters urge Congress to adequately fund our national parks and continue to address the $23 billion maintenance backlog so parks can thrive for generations to come.
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Read more about Is Big Spring the Biggest Spring?
Blog Post Is Big Spring the Biggest Spring? Well, it depends on how you measure. See how this hidden gem in Ozark National Scenic Riverways compares to others.
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Read more about 3 Reasons NPCA's 2024 ‘Pride in Our Parks’ Was Our Best Yet
Blog Post 3 Reasons NPCA's 2024 ‘Pride in Our Parks’ Was Our Best Yet Couldn’t make it to NPCA’s June events celebrating LGBTQ+ pride? Here’s a recap that we hope inspires you to join us next year.
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Read more about 5 Park Landmarks with Curious July 4 Histories
Blog Post 5 Park Landmarks with Curious July 4 Histories What sings ‘America the Beautiful’ more loudly than the natural landscape of our country? Here are five distinctive national park features named for events that took place on this U.S. holiday.
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Read more about Report: National Park Service Agrees Rosenwald Story Worth Preserving
Press Release Report: National Park Service Agrees Rosenwald Story Worth Preserving Jewish philanthropist and leader Julius Rosenwald partnered with African American communities to build schools across the South. Together, we can ensure their legacy lives on to inspire the next generation of righteous Americans.
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Read more about Senior Director of Development Operations
Staff Janna Lee Janna oversees data management and analytics, research and prospect management, and gift processing across the Development department.
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Read more about Preserving Chinatowns: How Many Are at Risk of Being Lost?
Blog Post Preserving Chinatowns: How Many Are at Risk of Being Lost? The National Park Service has said Asian American and Pacific Islander history is “dramatically underrepresented” among registered landmarks and historic places. NPCA and other groups are seeking to correct that.
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Read more about 5 Major Victories for Wildlife, Water and Public Lands
Blog Post 5 Major Victories for Wildlife, Water and Public Lands After years of advocacy work, NPCA scored massive wins for Alaska’s caribou, conservation of public lands and waterways, and protection of national parks from future oil and gas drilling.
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Read more about The ‘Quiet Crisis’ Facing National Parks
Blog Post The ‘Quiet Crisis’ Facing National Parks NPCA is calling on Congress to support recently introduced legislation that would provide $250 million for national parks’ long-underfunded cultural resources and history programs.
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Read more about Protect Them All: 10 Advocacy Badges You Can Earn This National Park Week
Blog Post Protect Them All: 10 Advocacy Badges You Can Earn This National Park Week Camp NPCA is officially in session! As NPCA celebrates National Park Week, we’re evoking all the nostalgia and fun of summer camp with a national park protection twist.
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Read more about Here’s How National Park Advocates Are Pushing for Action on Capitol Hill
Blog Post Here’s How National Park Advocates Are Pushing for Action on Capitol Hill Here are 4 major issues that need to be addressed to help our parks thrive. You, too, can get involved in getting Congress to solve them.
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Read more about Pullman Cultural Trail: Bringing stories to life throughout Pullman National Historical Park
Report Pullman Cultural Trail: Bringing stories to life throughout Pullman National Historical Park A Cultural Trail can utilize public art, green spaces and creative historical interpretation to bring new stories to life and bring visitors to other locations throughout this neighborhood national park.
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Read more about Senior Regional Director, Midwest
Staff Crystal Davis Crystal M.C. Davis is a visionary executive leader, now serving as the Senior Midwest Regional Director for the National Parks Conservation Association. With a rich history in executive leadership, her career is marked by influential positions in both Ohio and Washington D.C., spotlighting her profound expertise in government affairs, public policy, and strategic relationship management.
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Read more about Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 8
Resource Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 8 Strong state regional haze plans are critical to restoring clean air and clear skies for treasured places like Zion, Rocky Mountain, Theodore Roosevelt and Glacier National Parks. Unfortunately, states in this region are failing to adequately cut air pollution impacting these parks and wilderness areas and communities.
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Read more about Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 7
Resource Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 7 Strong state regional haze plans are critical to restoring clean air and clear skies for treasured places like Mammoth Cave National Park, and Hercules Glades and Mingo Wilderness Areas. Unfortunately, states in the Midwest (EPA’s Region 7) are failing to adequately cut air pollution impacting these parks and wilderness areas and communities.
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Read more about Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 5
Resource Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 5 Strong state regional haze plans are critical to restoring clean air and clear skies for treasured places like Isle Royale and Voyageurs National Parks, and Seney and Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Areas. Unfortunately, states in the Great Lakes region are failing to adequately cut air pollution impacting these parks and wilderness areas and our communities.
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Read more about Hope Along the Cuyahoga
Podcast Episode Hope Along the Cuyahoga The Cuyahoga River was once severely polluted and notorious for catching fire, inspiring the first Earth Day. Now, 53 years later, the river is revitalized, and advocacy is continuing to help the region thrive.
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Read more about A Sound Investment: Restoring the Great Lakes in Our National Parks
Report A Sound Investment: Restoring the Great Lakes in Our National Parks These success stories highlight the important role our national parks play in restoring the Great Lakes – the largest source of fresh water on the planet.
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Read more about Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Fact Sheet Great Lakes Restoration Initiative The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is a federal funded program that was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to restore and protect the Great Lakes – the largest fresh water system in the world.
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Read more about Ozone Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet Ozone Fact Sheet Ozone threatens the health of park visitors and contributes to the disease and death of park species such as the black cherry tree in the East and aspen and ponderosa pine in the West. National park ecosystems across the country are already showing damage from ground-level ozone pollution.
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Read more about Steven Moss: Memories of Fish and Wildlife Changes at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park Service Steven Moss: Memories of Fish and Wildlife Changes at Cuyahoga Valley National Park Listen to a longtime resident talk about the many changes he has witnessed in Cuyahoga Valley.
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Read more about Midwest Field Representative
Staff Tim Koenning Tim is the Midwest Field Representative in NPCA's office in Chicago where he works to protect national parks across the Midwest. Through this work, Tim cooperates with NPCA's partners in the Calumet region of Northwest Indiana and Chicago to protect and restore Indiana Dunes National Park, Pullman National Historical Park, and the natural areas in between.
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Read more about Great Lakes Senior Program Manager
Staff Kira Davis Kira Davis is the Great Lakes Senior Program Manager in NPCA’s Michigan Field Office in Suttons Bay. Kira leads NPCA’s work to protect and enhance the parks of the Great Lakes Region, including Sleeping Bear Dunes, Isle Royale, and Pictured Rocks.
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Read more about Park Talks
Regional Events Park Talks Join our NPCA community for virtual "Park Talks" to learn about our work and ways you can get involved.
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Read more about 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate
Resource 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate Want to be an advocate for parks, but don't know where to start?
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Read more about Voyageurs National Park at Risk from Sulfide Mining
Fact Sheet Voyageurs National Park at Risk from Sulfide Mining Recent mining proposals could pose a significant threat to this watershed. Even small amounts of contamination could harm the park's fish and wildlife.
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Read more about Regional Director of Development
Staff Diane Gerrish Diane Gerrish serves as the Regional Director of Development for the Midwest. Diane connects National Parks Conservation Association's most generous Midwest-based supporters with our advocacy and activities to protect our national parks.
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Read more about Campaign Director, Midwest Region
Staff Christine R. Goepfert Chris is the region’s Associate Director in NPCA's Minnesota Field Office in Minneapolis.
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Read more about Director, Communications
Staff and Media Personnel Alison Zemanski Heis Alison Heis joined the organization in 2010 and oversees media outreach and communications for the East Coast, Midwest, and NPCA’s national water initiatives. She leads communication outreach focused on strengthening NPCA’s brand and our emerging celebrity engagement efforts.
Explore Our Parks
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A–H
- Agate Fossil Beds National Monument ›
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore ›
- Badlands National Park ›
- Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park ›
- Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument ›
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park ›
- Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park ›
- Effigy Mounds National Monument ›
- First Ladies National Historic Site ›
- Fort Larned National Historic Site ›
- Fort Scott National Historic Site ›
- Gateway Arch National Park ›
- George Rogers Clark National Historical Park ›
- George Washington Carver National Monument ›
- Grand Portage National Monument ›
- Harry S Truman National Historic Site ›
- Herbert Hoover National Historic Site ›
- Homestead National Historical Park ›
- Hopewell Culture National Historical Park ›
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I-O
- Ice Age National Scenic Trail ›
- Indiana Dunes National Park ›
- Isle Royale National Park ›
- James A. Garfield National Historic Site ›
- Jewel Cave National Monument ›
- Keweenaw National Historical Park ›
- Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial ›
- Lincoln Home National Historic Site ›
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site ›
- Mississippi National River & Recreation Area ›
- Missouri National Recreational River ›
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial ›
- New Philadelphia National Historic Site ›
- Nicodemus National Historic Site ›
- Niobrara National Scenic River ›
- North Country National Scenic Trail ›
- Ozark National Scenic Riverways ›
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P-Z
- Perry's Victory And International Peace Memorial ›
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore ›
- Pipestone National Monument ›
- Pullman National Historical Park ›
- River Raisin National Battlefield Park ›
- Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway ›
- Scotts Bluff National Monument ›
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore ›
- Springfield 1908 Race Riot ›
- Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park ›
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve ›
- Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site ›
- Voyageurs National Park ›
- William Howard Taft National Historic Site ›
- Wilson's Creek National Battlefield ›
- Wind Cave National Park ›
Preserve Our Parks
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