Mississippi Park Connection strengthens the enduring connection between people and the Mississippi River by enriching the life of the river and the lives of all who experience our national park, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
Vision Statement
In partnership with the National Park Service, Mississippi Park Connection will ignite discovery and a lifelong relationship with the Mississippi River. Through youth education, environmental stewardship and community engagement, we will mobilize residents and visitors, and serve as a model for operating a national park in an urban area where people are part of the landscape.
Core Values
Community Focused
We are fortunate to have the support of an engaged community, full of knowledgeable and passionate individuals. Each person has a unique relationship with this place, and plays a role in telling the river’s story. We are committed to honoring these relationships and ensuring that everyone feels affinity for this park.
Inspiration
We seek to inspire people of all backgrounds to discover, explore, and cherish this place. We believe that by helping others to develop their personal relationships with the river, we will continue to cultivate dedicated advocates, stewards, and visitors of this park.
Resilience
We believe that our organization is much like a river, ever-flowing and always changing; and that enduring change means embracing it and remaining flexible. We keep an optimistic eye on the future to create solutions that steer through whatever snags may lie ahead.
Partnership
Above all, we believe in working together to achieve our goals. Just as no stream, creek, or river exists in isolation, we too are all connected to this watershed and to one another. It is through our partnerships that we are able to set a high standard in the national park system, and be a catalyst for positive change.
Joy
We acknowledge the human value of our shared natural resources, and recognize the role these spaces play in keeping us connected to our humanity. We go to the river to find tranquility, healing, and fun. The emotional connections that we have with the river are the driving force behind everything we do.
History
Mississippi Park Connection began as the local fund of the National Park Foundation, under the name Mississippi River Fund. In 2007, our organization became the official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or “friends” group of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Since that time, we have contributed more than $6 million to the National Park Service and its many partners in the community, improving the health of the Mississippi River and our community.
In October 2015, we changed our name to Mississippi Park Connection to better reflect our mission and programs. Mississippi Park Connection continues to play a pivotal role in connecting youth to the Mississippi River, steward the river’s wildlife habitat, and create meaningful connections between the community and the Mississippi River.