By RUSTY DENNEN
A plan for the future of America's national parks unveiled yesterday bodes well for the Fredericksburg area, even though the four battlefield parks here are not specifically cited.
"We're not too upset that we were not mentioned. It looks good and they are saying all the right things," said Russ Smith, superintendent of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.
The plan, released in Washington by NPS Director Mary Bomar, and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, is part of the national parks' Centennial Initiative announced by President Bush.
Bush in February asked the agency heads to gather information on how best to address the parks' needs in time for the 2016 100th anniversary.
The president's $2.4 billion 2008 budget calls for the largest increase ever for operations, which directly effect visitors. Another component is public-private investments that could generate up to $3 billion to help parks prepare for the centennial.
Nationally, park operations would receive $150 million to hire 3,000 additional seasonal workers, 1,000 for historic interpretation, 1,000 maintenance workers and 1,000 park rangers.
The battlefield parks here would get an additional $195,000, which would be used to hire seasonal workers.
That's critical because the Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Chancellorsville and Spotsylvania Court House battlefields have been increasingly relying on volunteers and cutting hours at some attractions to help take up the slack from years of shrinking budgets.
The parks, which cover more than 8,000 acres, could make progress protecting additional historic land. The Park Service would work with private, nonprofit preservation groups to make acquisitions.
Smith applied for a $5 million matching grant over 10 years to work with the local Central Virginia Battlefields Trust to buy important parcels that are not now protected.
A similar nationwide project would commit $150 million to the Washington, D.C.-based Civil War Preservation Trust for the same purpose, with the 70,000-member organization raising half.
And Smith said that Ellwood, which straddles Orange and Spotsylvania counties, is well-positioned for centennial funding.
Friends of Wilderness Battlefield have already raised more than $200,000 to restore portions of the mansion off State Route 20.
Smith is seeking a federal contribution to more than double that amount and to build an orientation center there for the Wilderness Battlefield.
Ellwood was occupied by Union troops during the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864 and earned a place in Civil War history as the burial place of Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's amputated arm.
Projects most likely to get funding already have private sector partners who have raised money. "I think we're in good shape for that project. I think we're way out ahead," Smith said.
Smith also submitted proposals for rehabilitating the battlefield visitors center at Fredericksburg and building a new visitors center at Chancellorsville.
Each of the 391 national parks has weighed in with centennial plans.
What programs get funded depends upon what Congress does in coming months with the president's budget.
Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431| CENTENNIAL INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE PARKS
The Future of America's National Parks plan sets performance goals for the 2016 parks' centennial.
They include: Improve park buildings to acceptable condition Restore native habitats by controlling invasive species and reintroducing key plant and animal species Monitor and improve natural resources in parks Reduce environmental impacts of park operations Double the amount of volunteer hours and enroll 2 million more Junior Rangers Encourage public-private partnerships and philanthropy |