The Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy announced that it has changed its name to the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy (CNPC) to reflect its support for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) as part of the national park system.

The CRNRA is composed of 15 park units with nearly 7,000 acres along 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River. As the official Friends group for the CRNRA, the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy works with the National Park Service to enrich visitor experiences in the CRNRA and protect the parks natural and cultural resources. The national parks need public support, and donations to CNPC help support the local unit of the national park system.  

Phillip Hodges, board president for the CNPC, said, As the official Friends group for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, having National Park in our name emphasizes that the park we support is part of our national park system.

Representing 20% of the public greenspace in the Atlanta metro area and designated as the first National Water Trail, the CRNRA is one of the top 30 most visited national parks in the U.S. with over three million visitors each year. More than 90% of the funds raised by CNPC have gone directly to support the national park to enhance and restore land and water trails, improve facilities, support volunteers, and conduct outreach and education programs.

Our name has changed, but our mission is the same. The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy's mission is to build a community of support for the CRNRA and promote stewardship of its natural and cultural resources. CNPC will continue to raise funds and promote volunteerism to help the CRNRA meet its improvement goals and priority initiatives, said Hodges.

For more information on how to join, donate, or volunteer with CNPC, visit ChattahoocheeParks.org. For information about the CRNRA, trail maps, and boating outfitters, visit NPS.gov/chat.