GCC Awarded $720,000 National Park Foundation Innovation Grant

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC), the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, announced today that it has been awarded a $720,000 innovation grant from the National Park Foundation (NPF) to launch Enhancing the Grand Canyon Visitor Experience through Digital Connectivity, a new initiative that will bring free public WiFi and expanded digital interpretation opportunities to Grand Canyon National Park.

The award is part of a $10 million investment in innovation by NPF that will support 18 projects benefiting 21 national parks. The highly competitive program was created to help parks and their nonprofit partners test innovative ideas, implement scalable technologies, and share solutions that strengthen park operations and enhance visitor experiences. More than 200 proposals were submitted during the program's first funding cycle. 

"This investment allows us to reimagine how visitors experience Grand Canyon while preserving what makes this place so extraordinary," said Liz Silkes, CEO of Grand Canyon Conservancy. "By expanding digital connectivity and interpretation, we're helping visitors more easily access important information, deepen their understanding of the canyon's remarkable natural and cultural history, and create a safer, more enriching experience for millions of people each year."

The multi-phase initiative will create free public WiFi access at Grand Canyon National Park while expanding digital interpretation opportunities that help visitors connect more deeply with the park's landscapes, history, cultures, and science.

"Innovation has always been part of the story of our national parks, but turning new ideas into action can be difficult. That's where philanthropy can help," said NPF President and CEO Jeff Reinbold. "The National Park Foundation is excited to empower parks and park partners to test new approaches, learn what works, and scale solutions that will help our national parks thrive for generations to come." 

The first phase of the project will expand free public WiFi access at key locations throughout the park. GCC recently completed the initial development of visitor WiFi at five GCC stores and is preparing to launch WiFi at these first sites. Future expansion will include additional locations such as bus stops, parking areas, shade structures, entry stations, and overlooks.

Visitors who connect to GCC's WiFi will access a landing page featuring park alerts, safety information, events, educational programs, maps, and resources designed to help them make the most of their visit.

Building on this new connectivity, the second phase of the project will expand opportunities for digital interpretation. Through digital platforms and potential partnerships with existing app providers, visitors will be able to access immersive, location-based content, including audio stories, videos, historic photographs, educational resources, and other interpretive experiences that bring Grand Canyon's natural and cultural stories to life.

Grand Canyon Conservancy's project is one of several innovative efforts funded through the NPF’s inaugural program, which includes projects focused on visitor connectivity, real-time traffic management, data-informed decision-making, and other scalable technologies designed to improve national parks across the country. 

About Grand Canyon Conservancy

Grand Canyon Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, raising private funds, operating retail shops within the park, and providing educational programs on the region's natural and cultural history. Our members fund projects including trails and historic building preservation, public educational programs, and the protection of wildlife and their natural habitats. Grand Canyon Conservancy inspires generations of park champions to cherish and support the natural and cultural wonder of Grand Canyon. For more information, visit grandcanyon.org.