Georgia poised to gain first national park and preserve

–Guest column–

(The Center Square) – Georgia is one step closer to having its first national park and preserve, after the bipartisan Ocmulgee Mounds Park and Preserve Establishment Act passed through committee in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

Located in Macon, the Ocmulgee Mounds Park and Preserve is already designated a National Historical Park and contains over 17,000 years of historical artifacts.

“This week, we took a historic, bipartisan step to designate Ocmulgee Mounds as Georgia’s first national park,” said U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat and the sponsor of Senate Bill 4216. “We’ll keep pushing until we get this done.”

A related bill is also making its way through the U.S. House, where the Natural Resources Committee already held a legislative hearing reviewing the act.

Legislators from both sides of the aisle have come together to support the institution of the park in central Georgia.

“This is another step forward towards realizing a longstanding dream that has broad support,” said U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop on social media. Bishop, a Democrat, is one of 12 cosponsors on the U.S. House version of the bill, House Resolution 8182.

“Not only will this create Georgia’s first national park and preserve, but it will also bolster the local economy and welcome more Americans to enjoy its rich cultural and natural beauty,” Bishop added.

Georgia has 11 sites designated by the National Park Service, more than 60 state parks, and 17 state historic sites. 

U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, a Republican, is also a cosponsor on the bill. He spoke in favor at the U.S. House legislative hearing on Tuesday, saying it has been a long time coming for the state.

“This is a bipartisan initiative that goes all the way back to 1934,” Scott said. “The Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve Establishment Act would create a historic opportunity to protect important natural and cultural resources, protect hunting and fishing for generations to come, and bring economic opportunities to middle Georgia through the creation of Georgia’s first national park.”

Testimony was also delivered at the hearing by Seth Clark, the Macon-Bibb County mayor pro tempore and executive director of the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative.

“Congress’ actions today reiterate what we’ve always known: that the cultural and ecological gems of middle Georgia are some of the most nationally significant sites in the United States of America and are worthy of the designation we’ve sought for 90 years,” Clark said in a release. “We’re grateful for continued bipartisanship the Georgia delegation has shown throughout the legislative process and stand ready to work with the multitude of stakeholders to shepherd in Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve.”

Economically, a national park designation would lead to an uptick in the tourism industry in the area. Environment Georgia, an environmental group, also supports the legislation, which it says will help protect local wildlife. 

“If successful, Georgia’s new national park would provide 35 miles of protected river corridor along the Ocmulgee River, a hotspot for wildlife,” the group said in a release. “Experts estimate the Ocmulgee River corridor is home to 32 mammal species, 170 species of birds, 26 amphibian species, 31 fish species and 35 reptile species.”

–Elyse Appel, The Center Square

This article is republished from The Center Square.