National Park Quarters Site Selection Process
The National Parks Quarters series is slated to begin in 2010, following the completion of the 2009 District of Columbia & United States Territories Program. The new series will comprise at least 56 quarters released at a rate of five per year with reverse designs featuring a National Park or National Site in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia.
The site selection process began shortly after the bill was signed into law. The sites for all 56 quarters will need to be selected within six months of enactment. This provides until September 19, 2009 for all sites to be selected and a complete release schedule to be determined.
To begin the site selection process, the US Mint will contact the chief executive of each host jurisdiction, formally requesting one preferred and three alternate National Parks or Sites to be featured on their quarter. National Parks and Sites available for selection will include any site under the supervision, management, or conservancy of the National Park Service, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, or any similar department of the government.
The chief executive will determine and provide the preferred and three alternative sites. If the precedents established for the prior State Quarters Program are any indication, some states may hold public votes or create committees to help the chief executive make his or her selections.
The US Mint will review the recommendations provided by each state, territory, and the District of Columbia and establish a complete candidate list of 56 different National Parks or Sites. This final list will be created after consultation with the Secretary of the Interior. This list will be provided to the Secretary of the Treasury, who will have final responsibility for approving the candidate list.
Update: The full list of sites has been selected. View the National Park Quarters Release Schedule.