Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National Historic Site Act
This bill would create the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National Historic Site in Georgia as a unit of the National Park System. The site would preserve and interpret the life of civil rights leader Reverend Dr. Ralph David Abernathy and the West Hunter Street Baptist Church where he served as pastor during the civil rights era. Establishment is contingent on obtaining enough land to form a manageable unit, with the Secretary of the Interior responsible for deciding when that threshold is met. Once established, the boundary would follow the map labeled “Proposed Boundary,” and the map would be publicly available. The National Park Service would manage the site under existing laws and could partner with the State or others to provide interpretive programs, exhibits, signage, tours, parking, and related services. Key provisions include allowable methods of land acquisition (donation, purchase with funds, or exchange; land owned by the State or a subdivision can only be acquired by donation), required management planning within three years, and authority to enter into cooperative agreements to support interpretive and educational activities and the preservation of resources within or near the site.
Key Points
- 1Establishes the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National Historic Site as a unit of the National Park System in Georgia to preserve and interpret Abernathy’s leadership in the civil rights movement and the West Hunter Street Baptist Church.
- 2Establishment is conditional on the Secretary of the Interior determining that a sufficient quantity of land has been acquired to form a manageable unit; a Federal Register notice must follow.
- 3The boundary is the map’s “Proposed Boundary” depiction; the map must be on file and publicly accessible.
- 4Land acquisition within the boundary may be by donation, purchase (with donated or appropriated funds), or exchange; land owned by the State or its subdivisions can be acquired only by donation.
- 5The National Park Service would administer the site under existing NPS laws and would develop a management plan within three years of funds becoming available; the Secretary can enter into cooperative agreements with the State or others for interpretive and support services (signage, exhibits, parking, tours, technology-based interpretive devices, and preservation of resources).