AMSA Partners with National Park Service
Home » Keepers of the Beach

AMSA Partners with National Park Service

Posted by admin on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 22:44

National Park Service Assateague Island National Seashore and Recreation Area (AINSRA) on January 28th, 2008 broke ground on the new visitor center. This new center is planned to offer many new educational and informational programs and material to the over 300,000 of the 2 million visitors it gets every year.

This ground breaking ceremony was attending by senators, past and present, congressmen, representatives from various state and local Governments as well as representatives from other Federal Government agencies. Many representatives from various media venues were also in attendance. Several organizations made donations to the park service and presented them to Scott Bentley, Superintendent of AINSRA. Early in 2007, the AMSA Board of Directors made a commitment to make a donation to the new visitor center to support the new Aquarium.

The new aquarium is designed to be the center and focal point of the new visitor center. Included with the aquarium is a touch tank & smaller nursery tank. The aquarium is projected to cost an estimated $75,000.

There is a program in place within the National Park Service that allows individual parks to apply for matching fund from donations. AMSA wanted to take a new role on Assateague. In years past AMSA was instrumental in many island preservation activities. Some of which are no longer allowed. Continuing its heritage and charter, AMSA desired to take a major role in the new visitor center and get its name in front of every visitor that enters the new building.Assateague Island National Park Service Aquarium

On January 28th, 2008, AMSA made a donation of $50,000 to the AINSRA for the purchase of the aquarium. This donation allows AINSRA to receive National Park Service matching funds of an additional $50,000. AMSA is the sole sponsor of the aquarium and will be recognized as such with various plaques and credits on the printed and viewed collateral that is produced. This allows every visitor to see AMSA as the “Keepers of the Beach”.


Through these efforts, we hope everyone who comes in to enjoy the aquarium will understand AMSA’s commitment to island preservation, conservation and dedication to access.

Thank you for your support of AMSA.