Investing in Our Future – The Great American Outdoors Act and Youth Corps Make a Difference at César E. Chávez National Monument

The César E. Chávez National Monument, located in Keene, California, commemorates the life and work of César E. Chávez, a civil rights activist who fought for the rights of farmworkers. The monument was established in 2012 and is located within La Nuestra Senora Reina de la Paz (La Paz) National Historic Landmark, which served as the headquarters of the United Farm Workers union starting in early 1970s.

The Monument is undergoing significant rehabilitation work made possible by several funding sources including the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). The project addresses deferred maintenance, such as replacing the irrigation system, repairing cracked and missing stucco surfaces of site walls and columns, and painting all site walls and columns. It is also enhancing visitor experience by replacing the carpet in the theater area, cleaning and retiling the Paseo Fountain, rehabilitating the Desert Garden landscape, and improving trail drainage. The project was made possible by the collaboration of the National Monument staff, National Park Service (NPS) Maintenance Action Teams, National Park Foundation, the Corps Network, and the Farmworkers Institute of Education & Leadership Development’s (FIELD) César Chávez Environmental Corps. This partnership provided valuable training and employment opportunities, showcasing the NPS's commitment to both preserving our nation's heritage and investing in the next generation of conservationists.

GAOA in Action: Revitalizing the César E. Chávez National Monument

The project involved a variety of restoration work, including:

• Repainting the theater within the visitor center

• Replacing the carpet in the theater area

• Cleaning and retiling the Paseo Fountain

• Cleaning the Memorial Fountain

• Cleaning, repairing, and removing vegetation from the site walls and columns

• Replacing the irrigation system site-wide

• Rehabilitating the landscapes of the Memorial Garden, Desert Garden, which includes improving trail drainage, stonework repair, and vegetation planting

Investing in Our Future

The project also provided valuable training and employment opportunities for young adults. The FIELD's César Chávez Environmental Corps is a program that provides young adults with the opportunity to work on conservation projects in national parks. This project gave Corps members the chance to learn new skills and gain experience working on a complex restoration project.

The Value of Preservation

The rehabilitation work at the César E. Chávez National Monument is a valuable investment in our nation's heritage. The project has helped to preserve a vital piece of American history and ensure that the site can be enjoyed by visitors for generations to come.

Investing in Our Youth, Preserving Our History

The project is a testament to the NPS's commitment to both preserving our nation's heritage and investing in the next generation of conservationists. The project has made a tangible difference in the lives of the young adults who worked on it, and it has helped to ensure that the César E. Chávez National Monument will be enjoyed by visitors for many years to come.

The rehabilitation of the César E. Chávez National Monument is a testament to the power of partnerships and the importance of preserving our national treasures. The project has made a tangible difference in the lives of the young adults who worked on it, and it has helped to ensure that the Monument will be enjoyed by visitors for many years to come. The NPS is grateful to GAOA and the National Park Foundation, and their donor funding, for their support of this important project.