Position: Landscape Architect/Civil Engineer Intern
Location: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Pay: $17.40/hour (40 hours/week)
Dates: May 19 - August 9
Housing provided with private rooms but shared bathrooms and kitchen
Personal Vehicle and License are required
Work Environment:
A combination of office and fieldwork. The office space is in a historic building converted to office space but has all the modern amenities.
Description:
This position will work within Cuyahoga Valley National Park's (CUVA) Facilities and Project Management Division to perform limited civil engineering/landscape architecture tasks in a developmental capacity with a focus on CUVA's main visitor center area, Boston Mills Visitor Center. The intern will work on the Boston Mills Improvement Project with the park's Civil Engineer and Division Chief to evaluate opportunities to improve the circulation partners, open space use, and interpretation opportunities including introducing visitors to African American history and experiences in the Cuyahoga Valley.
CUVA opened the Boston Mills Visitor Center, along with a new parking lot, on the west side of the Cuyahoga River in 2019 to provide a central location for first time visitors orient themselves and be introduced to the Cuyahoga Valley's history. The location also includes the Boston Depot, where visitors can access the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway (CVSR). CVSR currently connects the park into the City of Akron and there is an ongoing study to extend CVSR service into the City of Cleveland, where over 20% of the residents do not have personal vehicles. Prior to the new visitor center opening, visitor use was centered on the east side of the Cuyahoga River at an older visitor center, which is now a store, and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. With the focus of visitor use shifted to the west side of the river, and a new pedestrian bridge over the river, there is now the opportunity to reimagine and refocus the open spaces, trail system, and an old parking lot on the east side.
The intern will work the park's Civil Engineer as well Resource Management, Interpretation and Visitor Services, and Resource and Visitor Protection on this project to incorporate their subject matter expertise in the design. This work will require research into current standards for accessibility, paving materials, cost estimating, traffic control, and signage as well as cultural resources and permitting needs. The deliverables/work products will include conceptual level plans of alternatives, cost estimates, scope of work write ups, and product research. This information will then be used to create a PMIS package for funding consideration during the FY 2028 Servicewide Comprehensive Call.
In addition to the Boston Mills Circulation Improvement Project, this position will have opportunities to the assist the park's Civil Engineer on a wide variety of projects including reconstruction of pedestrian boardwalks, utility improvements, trail improvements, bridge inspections, and records research and cataloging.
Mentorship:
Initially the park's Civil Engineer and Chief of Facilities and Project Management will work day to day with the intern to introduce them to the park and the project. They will familiarize them with the park and the systems they will be working in until they can work somewhat independently to complete the project.
The intern will also have access to various NPS training opportunities especially related to safety, project development, and historic and natural resource compliance. This will include attending meetings, site visits, project review meetings, and parkwide functions.
Requirements:
• Oral and Written Communication Skills
• Reading and interpreting technical drawings
• Computer Skills -Excel, AutoCAD, GIS
Desired Skills and Qualifications:
• Completion of 2 academic years towards a Civil Engineering or Landscape Architecture degree from an accredited university
Minimum Requirements:
• Must be able to pass a federal background check
• Must be between 16 and 30 years of age
• Must be U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident
• Current student or recent graduate (no more than two years)
• Able to participate in workshop in Washington, D.C from August 3rd - 8th, 2025
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
CUVA has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion especially given the location near two urban areas. The supervisor of this position will take extra steps to include the intern in park meetings and events as well as regularly visit the various work areas within the park and project sites. By working on an interdisciplinary project, they will have the opportunity to get to know many members of the park staff.
CUVA also has a unique program called Connections which affords all staff time to volunteer or shadow across divisions. This position will have the opportunity to participate in those programs to meet a wide range of staff. The park is especially interested in the HBCUI program since it provides a unique opportunity to engage a severely underrepresented group in the engineering and landscape architecture
fields, which are instrumental to how we design our visitor use areas
More About the Location:
Cuyahoga Valley National Park encompasses 33,000 acres along the banks of the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron in northeast Ohio. The park's mission is to preserve and protect the historic, scenic, natural, and recreational values of the Cuyahoga River Valley for public use and enjoyment. The Park is dominated by deciduous forest but also supports meadows, wetlands, streams and agriculture. Summers are moderately warm with average temperatures in the 70's. Winters are moderately cold with average temperatures in the 20's and 30's. Heavy snowfall is common during winter months. Excellent recreational and educational opportunities are available in the area, including hiking and biking trails, numerous restaurants and theaters, nearby shopping, and a variety of universities and colleges.
*This is a 1099 position. Persons paid on a 1099 basis are independent contractors and are self-employed. Independent contractors are required to pay all self-employment taxes (Social Security & Medicare) as well as income tax. Independent contractors generally do not receive any type of employment benefits from the client. For more information please refer to www.irs.gov or talk with a tax professional.
Questions? Email Adam King at aking@gyfoundation.org
