New National Park??

[Gone-Camping]

Just thought I'd throw this one out there...
 
The BRAC commission has forced Fort Monroe in Hampton Viginia to close. The City of Hampton is busy making plans to take this property and turn it into a commecial money making thing.
 
This is a historic old fort, one of only 2 in the US that has a Moat around it. This one has quite a bit of history, and has been one of the longest used Army Forts in US history. There is a movement on to save this old fort, and turn it and it's sidekick "The Casemate Museum" into a National Park, one that includes a new campground, cottage rentals, etc....
 
Not a lot to it yet, but they are looking for support. You can find out more information at....
www.createfortmonroenationalpark.org
or
www.cfmnp.org

[dthurk]

What a wonderful opportunity.  We could use more National Parks in the east.

[tlhdoc]

I think you would see it as a National Monument or other National area, long before you would see it could become a National Park.  There are many properties run by the National Park Service that are hoping/waiting to become National Parks.  It is unusually for an are to jump right into being a National Park.

[dthurk]

I think you would see it as a National Monument or other National area, long before you would see it could become a National Park.  There are many properties run by the National Park Service that are hoping/waiting to become National Parks.  It is unusually for an are to jump right into being a National Park.

Probably right, but it's nice to hope.  Would think the chance might be better than most, if they're considering camping and lodging opportunities.  Sounds like they've got a lot of area to work with here.

[AustinBoston]

I think you would see it as a National Monument or other National area, long before you would see it could become a National Park.  There are many properties run by the National Park Service that are hoping/waiting to become National Parks.  It is unusually for an are to jump right into being a National Park.

The problem with National Monuments is two-fold.

First, National Monuments are typically created by Presidential proclamation, which makes them easy to create, but they can also be destroyed by Preidential proclamation.  (Doing do is almost unheard of, and a very bad move politically, but still within the President's authority.)  National Monuments don't have the same legal permanence of a National Park.

Second, a National Monument proclamation would only create the monument.  It would not typically allocate a penny for the $15,000,000 annual maintenance bill.  That would still have to come from Congress.

And as a point of fact, National Monuments may be run by several different organizations, including both the National Park Service and the US Forest Service, but there are others.

Austin

[vjm1639]

wish the COE would take it over and make it a nice camping area.  :>  Ft. Monroe is a beautiful base. It could make a gorgeous camping area!

[tlhdoc]

The problem with National Monuments is two-fold.
 
First, National Monuments are typically created by Presidential proclamation, which makes them easy to create, but they can also be destroyed by Preidential proclamation. (Doing do is almost unheard of, and a very bad move politically, but still within the President's authority.) National Monuments don't have the same legal permanence of a National Park.
 
Second, a National Monument proclamation would only create the monument. It would not typically allocate a penny for the $15,000,000 annual maintenance bill. That would still have to come from Congress.
 
And as a point of fact, National Monuments may be run by several different organizations, including both the National Park Service and the US Forest Service, but there are others.
 
Austin

You are correct, but you only have to convince the President to make it a National Monument.  To make it a National Park you have to have congress pass the bill and the President sign it.

[AustinBoston]

You are correct, but you only have to convince the President to make it a National Monument.  To make it a National Park you have to have congress pass the bill and the President sign it.

I don't have any real evidence for this, but I suspect there may be another reason many places go through a period as a National Monument before becoming a National Park.

Whenever the Federal Government obtains land, people see $$$.  Since a National Monument is less formal, it may be easier to negotiate land sales, clear up title problems, etc.  before formally defining the park boundaries.  Once the Monument is fully established, then it can be converted to a National Park, and those who demanded $500 per square inch are left with nothing - that parcel simply doesn't become a part of the park.

In this situation, the park boundaries are probably fairly well established already.  Going directly from military base to Historic National Park would be a relatively simple matter.  It is probably a matter of finding some other pork in some other state to trade for it.  Don't be mistaken - this would be handled in Congress like a pork barel project.  This would be true if we're talking establishing a National Park or funding for a National Monument.

Austin

[Gone-Camping]

The boundary for Fort Monroe will not be an issue, this place is bascially an island with a cause-way connecting it to the rest of the city. And since it's already govt owned property, aquisition is not a question either. This one stands a real chance, especially if it get's a little push from the 'grass roots'

[AustinBoston]

The more I learn, the more convinved I become that Fort Monroe must become a National Park.

The history there is astounding, and it is far more worthy to be a National Park than many other places that already are National Parks.

This was the place Confederate President Jefferson Davis was held after the Civil War.

Construction on this fort began in 1819, and is one of only two forts in the Western Hemisphere that has a complete water moat.

When I compare this facility to some of the "National Historic Parks" in the US, it would be an absolute tragedy to let this go.

I am urging people to do what they can, including contacting your congressman and senators, to do what is necessary to turn Fort Monroe into a National Park.

Austin