Date: November 12, 2009
Contact: Dale Wilkerson, 662-680-4005
The National Park Service (NPS) has announced the details of a $3.2 million project for rehabilitation of the historic Meriwether Lewis site near Hohenwald, Tennessee, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The funding will be used by the National Park Service to improve the visitor experience at the site while also addressing backlog maintenance and deteriorating infrastructure issues.
This major undertaking at the 900-acre developed site will include a wide range of improvements including rehabilitation of the interpretive cabin, new interpretive and wayside exhibits along with new directional and informational signage, rehabilitation and modernization of site utility systems, renovation of visitor use facilities for universal accessibility, and improvements to roads and site parking.
"This project will enable the National Park Service to address its deferred maintenance backlog while providing an opportunity to significantly improve the educational opportunities at the burial site of one of our greatest American heroes, Meriwether Lewis” said Parkway Superintendent Cameron Sholly.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed earlier this year gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior. Under ARRA, Interior is making an investment in conserving America's timeless treasures – our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage – while helping American families and their communities prosper again.
Preliminary site work on the rehabilitation projects has already begun with full project work beginning by spring of 2010.
