National Park Service Study Deems Ocmulgee River Corridor Unsuitable for Full National Park Status

Study recommends partnership with Muscogee Creek Nation and Georgia Department of Natural Resources to manage a reduced area, a plan already in motion.

The National Park Service has delivered a study to Congress on the feasibility of managing the Ocmulgee River corridor in central Georgia as a national park and preserve.
The study found that while the 120,000 acres along more than 50 miles of river are nationally significant and suitable for a park, it's not feasible due to the number of private property owners and state-managed lands.
The study recommends formally partnering with the Muscogee Creek Nation and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to manage a reduced area along the banks of the Ocmulgee.
Seth Clark, Macon's mayor pro-tem, said they've already endorsed Georgia's continued management of state lands, formally partnered with the Muscogee, and secured a $1 million Knight Foundation grant to support a multiyear regional strategic plan to build out the park.
Republican Rep. Austin Scott has joined with Georgia Democrats including U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock and Rep. Sanford Bishop in support of the initiative, and Ossoff’s office announced they’re preparing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to make it happen.