Bend park moves ahead on slow path

WASHINGTON — Six years and $7.2 million in federal funds since 2002, the site of the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District remains virtually unchanged.

The 750-acre park, a subunit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, is mostly undeveloped with no staff on site on a daily basis. But officials say behind-the-scenes planning is ongoing to ensure an on-schedule opening in 2011 or 2012.

“We are on schedule, but it’s a long schedule,” said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., who acknowledged the “frustrating process” in preparing the park for the public.

The drawn-out process has involved land acquisition and development of a park management plan, requiring public and American Indian tribal input and federal review.

The park, which contains artifacts chronicling Indian history dating back 12,000 years and Civil War relics, will feature hiking trails and an interpretive center at its entrance off Manufacturers Road.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2009, and the center is pegged for a 10.5-acre area.

An even-more intensive park management plan, which will take about three years and also encompass Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, will determine land use, programs and other offerings at the sites.

Sam Weddell, management assistant at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, said, “The park is still being birthed and will continue to do so until we finish all the planning we need to do.”

In the meantime, Mr. Weddell hopes to begin expanding park ranger programs at the site this summer as part of the National Park Service’s centennial initiative.

“In the past, we’ve been able to send people to the Bend on weekends during the summer for interpretive programs, and we hope to have additional rangers available to do that on a more regular basis this year,” he said.

FUNDING FOR THE PARK

Most of the $7.2 million in federal money Rep. Wamp has secured for the park has gone for land acquisition and a river bank stabilization project slated to begin this summer.

When the park opens, Rep. Wamp expects to have obtained $14.2 million in federal funding on top of private-sector funds raised by Friends of Moccasin Bend National Park.

Shelley Andrews, executive director of Friends of Moccasin Bend National Park, said the group is preparing to launch a feasibility study to determine how much private money can be raised for the interpretive center.

Officials expect $5 million in federal funding for the center, and Ms. Andrews hopes to raise at least another $10 million.

“We want the visitor’s center to be the next anchor on the waterfront,” she said.

Continued federal funding for the park may be jeopardized, at least this coming year, as lawmakers tighten the purse strings during an election year.

“It puts the squeeze on,” said Rep. Wamp, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee. “Depending on the next president’s priorities and how much Congress spends on (Department of) Interior items, all of those things can directly affect our schedule on Moccasin Bend.”