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"My grandfather taught me to fish on the Ocmulgee River and I taught my son to fish there, too," Clark said. "The Ocmulgee River is the lifeblood of this region, and has been for thousands of years. Through the work of the ONPPI, we are closing a chapter in the preservation process for these lands that have a 17,000-year history. This is our window of opportunity; it's a very special moment in time." That the expansion and preservation of the Ocmulgee National Historical Park and the accompanying expansion of the Ocmulgee River corridor will generate economic growth — substantially impacting Central Georgia's economy and increasing tourism from national and international visitors — is a fact not lost on anyone involved in the initiative. Preserving historical, cultural and environmental values while simultaneously providing the economic benefits of a National Park to Central Georgia and beyond is, in a nutshell, the vision of ONPPI. "We want to see the newly-designated National Historical Park connected to Macon's downtown," said Kensey Rabun, former board member of ONPPI and former executive director of Ocmulgee Land Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving land in the Ocmulgee River basin. "The grounds surrounding the area currently are being developed into a linear park connecting Macon's first neighborhood to the arts center and the National Historical Park." Connecting these areas "ultimately enhances the quality of life for our community," said Chris Sheridan, ONPPI board chairman. "Businesses want to locate around amenities so their employees can enjoy what Macon has to offer." Floyd said the Muscogee-Creek Nation is very grateful for the efforts of those in Central Georgia and beyond who recognize the importance of the Ocmulgee area. "We recognize that people are interested in what happens to our native lands, and it's refreshing to see the support," he said. "Collectively it's important as this process congeals and gives us the opportunity to all enjoy the region more fully." Next in the series: What the new Ocmulgee River Corridor will look like, the economic impact of the new National Park & Preserve designation and how locals can help make these dreams come true. Also, digging deeper with Chiefs Floyd and Hill and an interview with Sen. John Osoff, including his perspective on the designation. RIVERSIDE DRIVE STORE 3720 Riverside Dr., Macon FORSYTH ROAD STORE 4433 Forsyth Rd., Macon HIGHWAY 96 STORE 5220 GA 96, Jeffersonville BOLINGBROKE STORE 5969 US 41, Bolingbroke OCMULGEE EAST STORE 4900 Ocmulgee East Blvd., Macon HIGHWAY 49 STORE 717 GA 49 N, Macon DRIVEN BY PRODUCTIVITY, FUELED BY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SINCE 1952 Serving Central Georgia with six locally-owned retail locations focused on the highest standards of cleanliness, service, and efficiency AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 | maconmagazine.com 53