MCNP Seeks Public Opinion on Land and River Trails Management Plan

Edmonson Voice Report:
MAMMOTH CAVE, KY. –Mammoth Cave National Park seeks public review and comment on a Land and River Trails Management Plan through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website from July 25 through August 25, 2023. The new plan will help to ensure the long-term sustainability of park trails by providing strategic direction to guide trail maintenance, investment, and construction over the next few decades. 


“The park’s goal is to develop a trail plan that preserves park resources by utilizing sustainable construction techniques to limit erosion while also providing increased access and more diverse opportunities for our visitors to experience points of interest in the park,” said Superintendent Barclay Trimble. “We are still early in the planning process and no decisions have been made. We invite all those interested in engaging in this conversation about the future of the park’s trail network to provide their feedback.” 


Park planners have created multiple ways to learn about the Land and River Trail Management Plan.

1. A storymap has been developed that discusses the park and plan and includes maps of draft trail alignments. Access it though the ArcGIS StoryMaps website: http://bit.ly/mammothtrailsmap
   
   
2. A short informational video narrated by Superintendent Trimble discusses the plan details and can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/01qJcgmTsko.
   
   
3. Two public meetings are scheduled for park staff to informally share information about the proposed plan and planning process, gather public input, and answer questions in person. The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 1 at the Warren County Library, Bob Kirby Branch at 175 Iron Skillet Court, Bowling Green, KY from 4 pm -6 pm. The second meeting will be held on Thursday, August 3 at the Edmonson County Library at 280 Ferguson St, Brownsville, KY from 4 pm – 6 pm.
   
   
4.  The public can review project documents and provide feedback on the preliminary strategies by visiting https://parkplanning.nps.gov/MammothTrails. Click on ‘Open for Comment’ on the website to provide feedback. 
   
   

Comments made through the PEPC website is the preferred method but will also be accepted by U.S. mail addressed to “Mammoth Cave National Park, Attn: Rivers and Trails Management Plan, P.O. Box 7, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259.” All mail-in comments must be postmarked by August 25, 2023. Anonymous comments and comments submitted by e-mail will not be accepted. Bulk comments in any format submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted.  
 
www.nps.gov
 
Mammoth Cave National Park encompasses 52,830 acres in south central Kentucky, commemorating the diverse geological, biological and historical features associated with the longest cave in the world. Learn more about the park at www.nps.gov/maca, and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 
  
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.