Code,517028
Interviewer,Karen Grindell
Interviewee,John Debo
Date,6/23/2008
Abstract,"John Debo, Superintendent of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, discusses aspects of the park's development since its inception, educational programs, and the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail."
Tags,"Cuhahoga Valley National Park, Ohio and Erie Canal, towpath, land management, education, environment"
Special Notes,Interviewer did not specify their last name.
,
0,Debo talks about growing up in Detroit.
1,Moved to an island in the Detroit River.
2,Talks about graduating High School and going to College.
3,Got his Masters degree and worked at Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources as a land use planner.
4,Got hired for by the National Park Service. Worked in many places under the NPS.
5,His motivations to work for the NPS.
6,Talked about the application process for applying to national parks.
7,Where he hung out as a kid in the city. Summer camp experience.
8,His first time at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
9,cont'd
10,Moved from Massachusetts to Ohio for the job at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. His welcoming reception.
11,He was interviewed on radio by Joel Rose.
12,cont'd
13,The process of putting a national park together.
14,The staff and structure of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Service. The controversy of land acquisition.
15,The first project was the development of the walkways at Brandywine Falls.
16,The current structures of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park were conceptualized.
17,Management challenges with the municipalities involved with the park. Public opinion about the park.
18,The opportunities John had becoming the Superintendent.
19,Establishing good working relationships with the municipalities. Feels the park has become successful.
20,The heavily impacted communities and their relationship with the park.
21,"The designing, construction, and opening the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath."
22,The ribbon cutting ceremony of the Towpath. Public feelings about the park.
23,How people began to see the Cuhahoga Valley National Park positively.
24,Discussion of the Environmental Education Center.
25,The Environmental Education Program growth.
26,The Ohio and Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor Legislation.
27,Connecting Cuyahoga Valley to Cleveland.
28,Process of producing the Ohio and Erie Canal Heritage Cooridor.
29,Discusses the fesability study recommending the project.
30,Support and grass-roots following.
31,25th Anniversary of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
32,Discussion of the awareness of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
33,"The name change from ""Recreation Area"" to ""National Park."""
34,cont'd
35,The name change increased the Park's recognition.
36,Discussion of the Cuyahoga Valley Association.
37,Preservation of the Cuyahoga Valley through federal legislation.
38,Cuyahoga Valley Association and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
39,When John met the CVA board.
40,Social support organizations evolve into philanthropic support groups.
41,CVA merged with Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center.
42,CVA provides support through advocacy.
43,Park managers participate in the evolution of friends groups.
44,cont'd
45,Financial resources available to National Parks. Volunteer importance.
46,Establishment of the Cuyahoga Valley Coutryside Conservancy.
47,Responsibilities as the Superintendent.
48,cont'd
49,Management challenges at the park.
50,Historic resource base of the Cuyahoga Valley.
51,Tensions between the natural resource side and the cultural resource side.
52,Cuyahoga Valley legislation inclusions.
53,Farms were sold to developers and the park service.
54,Lost farm houses due to falling down and fires.
55,How to save and preserve the farmsteads.
56,Visited British National Parks.
57,Discussion of lived-in parks.
58,cont'd
59,"Wanted to join forces with the American Farmland Trust, but did not."
60,The Cuyahoga Valley Coutryside Conservancy project.
61,A model to the National Park Service.
62,Knew this job was going to be longer than 2 or 3 years.
63,The two superintendents that preceded him.
64,Connections to the park.
65,International reputation of the park.
66,Invested in the community and wants to stay.
67,Has spent 32 years in the National Park System.
68,Recognizing Ralph Regula.
69,Discussion about John Siberling.
70,cont'd
71,End of interview.