Macon Magazine

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 9 M A C O N M A G A Z I N E . C O M | 9 5 years between the Muscogee and the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park, largely through the work of park superintendent David and Muscogee Nation Principal Chief James Floyd. At David's invitation, Floyd has attended the last two annual Ocmulgee Indian Celebrations at the park and brought nation- members with him. He also was present for a celebration after news came that legislation expanding the park had been signed. "It's obviously important that our culture and history are preserved and the Ocmulgee lands are very much part of that," Floyd said. "We want people to have correct information about us, and the best way that can happen in the Macon area is for people to meet and get to know us. It's an enjoyable relationship we have with Macon and the greater Central Georgia community, and I'm appreciative of what's being done to preserve our historic lands." Representatives of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes, which includes the Muscogee, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole nations, supported legislation for park expansion. Preservation for generations As great as conservation efforts and economic growth is, the significance of preservation and expansion of Ocmulgee Mounds for future generations is of no less importance, particularly for Muscogee young people. "It's uplifting coming to the Ocmulgee Mounds for many reasons," Floyd said. "e collaboration we have and support we see in the community is one thing, but it's also important our young ONPPI leads the charge e Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI) is a community-based organization continuing the work to expand the park and see that each available new acre is included in park grounds. Officially formed in 2010, members' efforts predate that year and echo the similar work done by their 1930s predecessors, who established the park. Both groups saw the historical, cultural and economic importance of the land and its mounds, which served as home to a variety of Native American cultures. Bill Solomon is a senior vice president and chief legal counsel for Mercer University and an ONPPI volunteer. Interestingly, he is the great nephew of Linton Solomon, a leader of the original 1930s pro- park group. "I have my own regard for Native American culture, and to me, there's a sense of justice involved in the project," he said. "I suppose my desire to see the land honored, expanded and protected springs from my own desire and from a family legacy. It's come full circle for me but it's part of all our heritage and something we all should be excited about." e early and latter groups both saw the land's natural ecological value and sought federal protection for it through the National Park Service, though neither got accompanying federal funds to secure property. However, both took the challenge to raise money to purchase land for donation to the park. at's where things stand now for the ONPPI and wider Middle Georgia community: Funds must be raised to buy property to expand the park. "It's an opportunity we better not miss," said Macon attorney Brian Adams, president of the ONPPI board. "Our next steps are already underway to raise money. We're going to foundations, corporations and the whole community for it and we're in conversations with landowners. I expect it could take $5 million to $10 million to do what we need to do." Adams said that a large section of newly approved acreage is owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation, which will donate it. Another section is owned by Macon-Bibb County and Adams anticipates it will be donated as well. He said the rest is in the hands of three or four independent landowners. Local and national impact Adams and others see the many-faceted results of the project having impact locally and across the United States. A study funded largely by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation projected that an expanded, enhanced park along the Ocmulgee corridor would cause as much as a six-fold increase in visitation within 15 years. It projected a pre-expansion potential visitor-base of 207,607 growing to 1.3 million by 2031 with expansion. Dollars spent could climb to $233.4 million annually versus $26.7 million without expansion. e study said such expansion could define a "new trajectory" for Middle Georgia. More broadly, the park's impact could extend all the way to Oklahoma and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation that once called the Ocmulgee Mounds area home. Ties have been strengthened in recent "It's come full circle for me, but it's part of all our heritage and something we all should be excited about." -BILL SOLOMON

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