Community Engagement Begins for Georgia’s First National Park

In early June, the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI), a Macon-based non-profit began its public engagement activities to support the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Strategic Plan. This planning effort will examine the community impacts of pending legislation to create Georgia’s first national park and preserve. Study areas include a focus on cultural resources and interpretation, environmental conservation, infrastructure, land use and development, economic impact, and intergovernmental coordination. ONPPI is conducting this study in partnership with the Middle Georgia Regional Commission and using the professional planning services of Kimley-Horn. In addition to engaging the local communities of Middle Georgia, this planning effort is being closely coordinated with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, who are intended to be full partners in the co-management of a newly designated national park and preserve.

Stakeholder engagement continues later this month on June 25, with additional public outreach opportunities planned for August and September. For more information about these planning efforts, please visit the ONPPI website.