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National Park Service

We are proud to support the National Park Service in delivering a diverse portfolio of design, construction, planning, conservation, and transportation solutions that protect iconic landscapes, preserve wildlife habitats, improve infrastructure, restore ecosystems, and ensure safe, sustainable access for millions of visitors.

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Location

  • United States

Client

  • National Park Service

Project Status

  • Complete

The National Park Service manages 433 individual sites covering more than 85 million acres — from iconic national parks and monuments to rivers, seashores and historic landmarks. These spaces welcome over 331 million visitors annually, creating a need to balance public access with environmental stewardship.

Our partnership with the National Park Service spans a multi-year contract covering hundreds of sites across the United States. As a trusted advisor, we deliver integrated services in infrastructure planning, environmental assessment and conservation strategy — helping the Park Service address complex challenges at scale. From iconic national parks to historic landmarks and remote natural areas, we lead projects that enhance safety, accessibility and sustainability while supporting the long-term stewardship of America’s most treasured public lands.

WSP US Map - National Parks

Partnering with the National Park Service at 210 sites nationwide.

 

Championing conservation: designing for people and parks

At the South Rim of the Grand Canyon — one of the most iconic and heavily visited natural landmarks in the United States — the National Park Service is working to address growing infrastructure demands while preserving the park’s ecological and visual integrity.

As part of a broad advisory contract, we led an environmental assessment for a strategic transportation plan designed to improve visitor accessibility and flow. The assessment evaluated potential impacts on native vegetation, endangered species habitats and scenic vistas, while also considering how infrastructure upgrades would affect the overall visitor experience.

With over five million annual visitors, the South Rim faces increasing pressure on its natural and built environments. Our work helped the National Park Service advance a transportation strategy that balances public access with long-term conservation — supporting sustainable tourism and protecting one of America’s most treasured landscapes.

Located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the most visited national park in the United States — the Newfound Gap Road is a 33-mile scenic corridor that connects visitors to the park’s diverse ecosystems and historic landmarks.

Under a broad advisory contract with the National Park Service, we developed a rehabilitation strategy to improve roadway safety and resilience while preserving the park’s natural beauty and cultural significance. As a vital route for millions of annual visitors, the road plays a central role in facilitating access to protected landscapes while minimizing environmental impact.

Our design approach prioritized environmental sensitivity and visual harmony, ensuring that infrastructure upgrades blend seamlessly with the surrounding terrain. By enhancing safety and accessibility, we supported the National Park Service’s mission to promote sustainable tourism and safeguard one of the nation’s most treasured natural environments.

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Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

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Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Spanning 105 miles along the crest of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Skyline Drive is the only public road through Shenandoah National Park — offering visitors access to some of the region’s most iconic landscapes.

To support its restoration, we conducted a comprehensive environmental assessment that included the rehabilitation of 49 historic overlooks, each offering panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and ridgelines. The project required careful evaluation of ecological impacts, visual integrity and visitor experience to ensure that improvements are aligned with the National Park Service’s conservation goals.

As a vital corridor for millions of annual visitors, Skyline Drive plays a central role in connecting people to the park’s landscape and legacy. Our work helped the National Park Service advance a restoration strategy that enhances safety and accessibility while preserving the character and resilience of one of America’s most treasured scenic byways.

NPS sites supported
210
Restoration of historic overlooks
49
NPS Regions supported
12
Quality: The environmental services contract WSP is supporting the National Park Service (NPS) at Natchez Trace Parkway (NATR) is the most complex ever awarded from the NPS Denver Service Center (DSC)-Transportation Division. Their team has done a very good job tracking the 80 or so subtasks in the scope of work, and their various technical submittals have been very good. Schedule: One of the WSP Team’s best strengths is their focus on the project schedule…this far, WSP has done an excellent job, particularly given the complexity of the scope.

Other challenges that we have overcome