Dear Friends,

The 150th anniversary of the American Civil War (2011-2015) provides a fitting time to craft a new vision for Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. We invite your help to develop a new General Management Plan (GMP) to guide park management for the next twenty years. Much has changed since the last plan was adopted in 1986. Commercial and residential development and expanding roadways have put pressure on battlefield land both inside and outside park boundaries. Park facilities are no longer adequate to meet the needs of visitors and local school children.

During the summer and fall of 2009, we met with you and asked for your ideas for the GMP. The comments that we received helped us understand what was important to you, and determine the scope of issues to be addressed in the plan. Mindful of the ideas and suggestions we received from you, the planning team has begun to craft alternatives, which are options for exploring different possible futures for Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. There are many ways to preserve and protect the park, to provide rich visitor experiences, and to tell its stories. Later this spring, the planning team will present several draft preliminary alternative concepts and welcome your comments. 
 

We believe that the GMP is an exciting opportunity to touch the future as we envision the park that we will leave to forthcoming generations. We encourage you to take part in our workshops and look forward to seeing you at these important meetings.

Russ Smith,

Superintendent

A special thanks to those who shared their thoughts in 2009 at the Open House Workshops for the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park GMP, held: on July 29 at Riverbend High School, July 30 at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, September 8 at Chatham Manor, and September 9 at the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Centers and the Lake of the Woods Clubhouse!

Click here to view the GMP PEPC-Website.

Click here to read our current General Management Plan (1986).

Have ideas about the plan or future of the site? Click here to email us thoughts and comments, or write to us at:

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP

120 Chatham Lane

Fredericksburg, VA 22405