Mammoth Cave National Park – what does it mean to you?

Mammoth Cave National Park – what does it mean to you? That's what Superintendent Sarah Craighead is asking as Mammoth Cave National Park prepares a foundation document for its future planning and management. Public comment is welcome and needed. The public comment period is open July 15-29, 2013.

"A foundation document involves revisiting a park's core mission and significance, what is important about the Park," said Craighead. "It answers the question – 'why do we care about this place?' It is a good starting point, and Director Jarvis has called upon every National Park Service area to complete a foundation document by 2016, the 100-year anniversary of the agency."

Although Mammoth Cave's foundation document will not be a decision-making document and will not include actions or management strategies, it will describe a shared understanding of what is most important about the Park, its resources and values, and interpretive themes that tell the story of Mammoth Cave, above and below ground. The Park's 1983 General Management Plan needs updating, and the foundation document is the first step.

The public is invited to play a role in charting the Park's future by sharing their thoughts on what is most significant about Mammoth Cave and to help identify its most pressing threats and opportunities.

Written comments may be submitted July 15-29, 2013, through the NPS planning website. Visitors to the website will be able to submit responses to questions about the Park's significance, threats, and opportunities.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies