There’s been talk, recently, of Ocmulgee Park becoming Georgia’s first-ever National Park. In a recent development, the Georgia Department of Transportation also donated over 100 acres of land to the park. Keep scrolling to see why this is important, and what the progress is of Ocmulgee’s National Park status!
What is Ocmulgee Park?
Ocmulgee Park is located in Macon, GA, on what was originally the land of the Muscogee (Creek) indigenous people, before their forced removal by the U.S. government. This incredibly important historic site is now a protected National Historic Park, and the Georgia Conservatory has plans to help recognize it as a National Park.
Ocmulgee National Park would be the first National Park to be co-managed by the removed indigenous tribe, in this case the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, to whom the land originally belongs, and the U.S. government.
What is the different between a National Park and a National Historic Park?
You might be thinking… wait. Isn’t Ocmulgee National Historic Park… already a National Park? Nope. It is not. Georgia currently has no National Parks. While National Historic Parks are super important, of course, they don’t carry the prestige and protection that National Parks have!
More Than Just Parks explains it well,
To be clear, there are only 63 national parks. National parks can only be designated by an act of congress – unlike many other units in the national park system which can gain their designation through executive action or even secretarial orders.
Why did the Georgia DOT donate land to Ocmulgee Park?
The Georgia Department of Transportation recently donated 136.55
The Macon Telegraph reported that GDOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry said, in a press release,
We at the Georgia Department of Transportation are pleased to make this sizable donation of land, which will have a profound and meaningful impact… This acreage is rich with cultural significance and history, and we are proud to contribute to the expansion of the Park.
Even though this comes at a time when Ocmulgee Park is looking at National Park status, the article clarifies that the donation is not a officially part of the ongoing bipartisan congressional efforts to create a national park and preserve.
Principal Chief David Hill of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation said in the same press release,
This land holds profound cultural and historical meaning for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation… Each step in reclaiming and protecting this sacred ground is a step toward healing and honoring our ancestors. We are grateful to the State of Georgia and to the many partners who are helping to restore and protect the original footprint of Ocmulgee.
As we have more details about the National Park status of Ocmulgee, we’ll let you know!