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 St. Louis Arch, 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 – such as Lincoln Home National Historic Site – 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, with a field office in St. Paul, Minnesota. 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 improve public transit at Chicago’s first national park, Pullman National Monument.
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, at Indiana Dunes National Park on the shores of Lake Michigan, NPCA brings public and private land managers together to solve conservation challenges, such as controlling invasive species, managing erosion, and leveraging staff and project funds to better protect wildlife and nature in the highly industrialized and fragmented landscape.
In the urban environment, 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.
The Midwest team will continue to build national park advocates in its 11 states to fight for enhanced protections of the beautiful and historic national parks that make this region so exceptional.
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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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 Wolves at Isle Royale
Victory Wolves at Isle Royale Isle Royale National Park in Michigan is a wild, remote island in Lake Superior that serves as a natural refuge for wildlife, including its most famous residents: wolves and moose. Ninety-nine percent of Isle Royale is designated as a federal wilderness area and as the island’s top predator, wolves are essential to controlling the island’s moose population.
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Read more about Stand Up to Polluters at Indiana Dunes
NPCA at Work Stand Up to Polluters at Indiana Dunes EPA must enforce the Clean Water Act to protect this national park site from toxic chemicals.
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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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— Todd
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Read more about 7 Tips for Telling Your Park Story Like a Documentary Photographer
Blog Post 7 Tips for Telling Your Park Story Like a Documentary Photographer We love national park photos, but posed images can’t tell the whole story — especially years later. An award-winning documentary photographer shares how to turn your family adventure into cherished memories.
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Read more about National Parks Are in Climate Distress. This Law is One Step Toward a Solution.
Blog Post National Parks Are in Climate Distress. This Law is One Step Toward a Solution. A year after its passage, 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act remains a historic climate investment in national parks. It can’t be the only one.
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Read more about FAQs: A National Monument for Emmett Till
Blog Post FAQs: A National Monument for Emmett Till NPCA and its partners advocated for years for the establishment of a national park site to honor Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Chicago native murdered in Mississippi, and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who became a civil rights icon after his death. Today, the White House established the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Mississippi and Illinois. Read frequently asked questions about why it's important.
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Read more about Latinos Are Critical to the Environmental Movement
Blog Post Latinos Are Critical to the Environmental Movement Latino Conservation Week highlights the contributions of Latinos in caring for the environment, while encouraging the community’s culture of stewardship. Here’s how NPCA supports Latino engagement every day.
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Read more about 9 Features You May Not Know About at Indiana Dunes National Park
Blog Post 9 Features You May Not Know About at Indiana Dunes National Park Get a taste of wilderness remarkably close to Chicago and other urban centers at Indiana Dunes National Park, which NPCA has been helping to preserve and enhance.
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Read more about Conservation Groups Sue EPA to Enforce State Plans, Clear Haze Pollution
Press Release Conservation Groups Sue EPA to Enforce State Plans, Clear Haze Pollution NPCA, Sierra Club, Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency to clear hazy skies.
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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 8 National Park Gardens to Delight the Senses
Blog Post 8 National Park Gardens to Delight the Senses If you’re looking for some color and fragrance this spring and summer, gardens in national parks are — or soon will be — abloom.
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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 Coming Full Circle at the Great Lakes
Blog Post Coming Full Circle at the Great Lakes As a young Native American, NPCA staffer Kira Davis journeyed across the U.S. to reconnect with her culture and recognize her heart’s calling. National parks held the loving space in which she could grow.
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Read more about 10 Great Lakes National Parks to Know and Love
Blog Post 10 Great Lakes National Parks to Know and Love The Great Lakes make up the largest freshwater system in the world. Can you name the national parks found near and along their shores? They preserve natural phenomena and cultural history distinctive to this portion of North America.
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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 Facts You May Know Not About 10 First Ladies
Blog Post Facts You May Know Not About 10 First Ladies In honor of Women’s History Month, here are intriguing stories about 10 of these public figures who have contributed to American history, culture and the presidency.
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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 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 Hamill Calumet Conservation Senior Coordinator
Staff Tim Koenning Tim is the Hamill Calumet Conservation Senior Coordinator in NPCA's Midwest office in Chicago. 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 Monument, 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 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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Read more about Midwest Field Representative
Staff Mark Mesle Mark Mesle is the Midwest Field Representative in NPCA’s Chicago office. Mark works with community groups and local officials to build support for parks throughout the region.
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Read more about Restoring Wolves at Isle Royale
Infographic Restoring Wolves at Isle Royale Through years-long advocacy efforts by National Parks Conservation Association, the National Park Service will bring more wolves to Isle Royale National Park, an island in Lake Superior. More wolves will keep the island’s rapidly growing moose population in check and improve the overall health of the park landscape.
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Read more about When Nature Is Out of Balance
Fact Sheet When Nature Is Out of Balance The wolf population at Isle Royale National Park has been dwindling for years but a new plan to introduce more wolves brings hope.
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Read more about Midwest Regional Office Field Reports
Report Midwest Regional Office Field Reports NPCA's Midwest Regional Office produces a newsletter twice a year. These field reports provide timely updates and perspectives on issues of interest in the more than 50 diverse national park sites throughout the region.
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Read more about More Wolves at Isle Royale National Park
Infographic More Wolves at Isle Royale National Park NPCA has long advocated to bring new wolves to the national park to protect the long-term survival of this iconic species.
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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 ›
- 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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