The path to a National Park is long and winding. Garnering community support, garnering support from elected officials and convincing the National Park Service to move the park forward – followed by perhaps the biggest lift in the process, convincing Congress and the White House to sign on.
In the case of the would-be Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve, much of the legwork is already done and we’re reaching the final phase of convincing Washington. U.S. Reps. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) and Austin Scott (GA-08), alongside U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, are reintroducing the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act (H.R. 2345).
“I am proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this bipartisan bill. By establishing the Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve, we are highlighting over 17,000 years of history and culture as well as welcoming people from across the country to enjoy Georgia’s natural beauty,” said Rep. Bishop. “Elevating the status of and expanding this site to a national park and preserve will raise awareness about it, increase public hunting and fishing grounds, encourage more visitors to our area, and boost the local economy.”
The bill is certainly bipartisan, supported as well by Macon-area Rep. Scott. The park would mean big business for Macon and Central Georgia, with likely hundreds of thousands of extra visitors drawn to the area.
“Establishing the Ocmulgee Mounds and surrounding areas as Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve remains a top bipartisan initiative for all lawmakers and stakeholders involved,” said Rep. Austin Scott. “The Ocmulgee Mounds are of invaluable cultural, communal, and economic significance to our state, and I am committed to keeping this initiative moving forward.”
The movement for the park has been led on a local level for many years now, partially helping to push Seth Clark into office as Macon Mayor Pro Tempore. Clark is also the Executive Director of the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative. Clark has been involved in Georgia politics for much of his career and the success of the park in Macon would be a big win.
“I cannot overstate the importance of this legislation to our region, state, and country. Tens of millions of private dollars have been leveraged to conserve the precious cultural and ecological resources of the Ocmulgee Corridor and this bipartisan legislation allows us to continue to grow the middle Georgia economy, protect our national security interests at Robin Air Force Base, expand hunting and fishing access, and authentically preserve some of the most culturally significant sites in the country,” said Clark.
One item in the park’s favor is its proximity to Robins Air Force Base. The military likes to have a little room around its bases when possible and limit development as best they can. A National Park next to a base would be the ultimate limitation to development. There is even a coalition called the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership that seeks to achieve this goal of sustainable land management and preserve natural resources.
“Preserving the undeveloped lands within the Ocmulgee River Corridor is critical to safeguarding Robins Air Force Base from incompatible land use, ensuring we can sustain our national security missions,” said Brig. Gen. John C. Kubinec, USAF (ret), President/CEO of 21st Century Partnership. “This park and preserve will also provide our military members and their families with valuable opportunities for outdoor recreation and leisure, enhancing their quality of life while strengthening the economic vitality of Middle Georgia.”
