Burns' doc inspires $500,000 grant from National Park Foundation

The National Park Foundation is providing half a million dollars to establish a nationwide grant program to reach underserved visitors, it announced yesterday. The foundation said it was "inspired" to do so by Ken Burns' documentary The National Parks: America's Best Idea, which premieres Sept. 27 on PBS. Thirty-five parks nationwide will use the funds to develop outreach strategies and engagement programs for folks who don't usually visit the parks--primarily people of color, according to the foundation's press release.