Scenic Easement Restrictions

In 1938, the United States Congress established the Parkway as a unit of the National Park System to commemorate the historic travel corridor known as the Old Natchez Trace. In order to protect the viewshed of the Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee purchased scenic easements from adjacent landowners and transferred those rights to the U.S. Government. Since the 1930s, development and population growth has made it ever more important to protect the scenic views with 3,000 commercial and private neighbors sharing the Parkway’s boundary.

 

Scenic Easement Restrictions

1. That buildings, pole lines, and structures may be erected on such lands only for farm or residential purposes. New buildings or major alteration to existing buildings shall be subject to the prior approval of the grantee, or its assigns [Parkway]. No commercial buildings, power lines, or other industrial or commercial structures shall be erected on such lands, except existing commercial buildings may be altered or the property may be otherwise improved for the purpose of continuing established use after plans have been approved by the grantee, or its assigns [Parkway].
2. That no mature trees or shrubs shall be removed or destroyed on such land without the consent of the grantee or its assigns [Parkway], except such seedling shrubbery or trees as may be grubbed up or cut down in accordance with good farm practice and residential maintenance.
3. That no dump or ashes, trash, sawdust or any unsightly or offensive material shall be placed on such land.
4. That no sign, billboard, or advertisement shall be displayed or placed upon such land, except one sign not greater than 18 inches by 24 inches, advertising the sale of the property or products raised upon it.

 

The most common violation.

NPS T. Berryhill

The most common violation is sub-paragraph (b) which states that no mature trees or shrubs shall be removed without the Parkway’s consent. Our policy is to partner with landowners on this provision in a manner that ensures the Parkway’s viewshed is protected.

 

The U.S. Government holds a scenic easement on various properties along the Natchez Trace Parkway. If you are unsure if your property is included in a scenic easement, or if you do not have a record of your property’s scenic easement, we can provide a copy. Click here to e-mail us.