News Release

Reconstruction Era National Historic Park invites public input on the park’s General Management Plan / Environmental Assessment

Date: May 29, 2024
Contact: Laura Waller

BEAUFORT, SC – Reconstruction Era National Historical Park seeks public input on a General Management Plan and Environmental Assessment that prescribes site improvements and management across Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. The public commenting period will be open from May 29 to June 30, 2024, providing opportunity to review the plan content and submit written comments. More information about the General Management Plan and Environmental Assessment can be found on the project website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/REER_GMP.

“We are excited to offer another opportunity for the public to share their comments on the future of Reconstruction Era National Historical Park,” said Superintendent Laura Waller. “We are fortunate to have gotten input from our partners and the public earlier in the planning process, and value additional input in this final stretch to ensure we are incorporating a broad variety of ideas into future management.”

Written comments may be submitted by visiting https://parkplanning.nps.gov/REER_GMP and selecting “Open for Comment” on the left menu bar and selecting “General Management Plan / Environmental Assessment.” Written comments may also be submitted by mail to:

National Park Service

Denver Service Center

Attn: REER GMP / Charles Lawson

12795 West Alameda Pkwy

Denver, CO 80228

Please ensure written comments are postmarked by June 29, 2024, so there is time to consider them. 

About the Reconstruction Era NHP General Management Plan

As a new unit of the national park system, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is developing a comprehensive general management plan (GMP), a broad document that identifies the park's long-term goals and guides visitor experience, management, park facilities development, and park operations for the next 20 years and beyond. 

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park was designated a national monument on January 12, 2017, to recognize the role Beaufort County, South Carolina, played in shaping the historic period of Reconstruction. In March 2019, the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9) redesignated the park from a national monument to a national historical park, expanded the park boundary, and created the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network, to be administered by the park. The nationwide Reconstruction Era National Historic Network includes sites and programs affiliated with the Reconstruction era, but which the National Park Service does not necessarily manage. The act also authorized the National Park Service to expand the boundary of the park within the Beaufort National Historic Landmark District and on Saint Helena Island and to accept administrative jurisdiction from the US Navy at Camp Saxton. The park's GMP will include guidance for the future management of the redesignated national historical park and criteria for future boundary expansions.

The National Park Service has limited land ownership within the park boundary, and partnerships are critical to sharing the story of the Reconstruction era. Consultation and coordination among partner organizations and key stakeholders will be vitally important to this planning process, and successful implementation of the park's future general management plan will depend on continued coordinated efforts with partners.