Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and Friends of the Park Announce Find Your Park Signage Project Funding provided through the NPS Centennial Challenge Program

Date: February 4, 2016
Contact: Kim Coons, 423-752-5213 x139

Fort Oglethorpe, GA: The National Park Service has announced $15 million in support of 69 projects in 63 parks, including $24,500 at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park to replace outdated entrance signs at 12 major areas of the national park in Georgia and Tennessee, and to build a new primary entrance sign designed for group photographs.The funding will be matched with $49,200 from the Friends of Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP.

Funding for the project is provided through the National Park Service's Centennial Challenge Program to leverage partnerships to improve visitor services, support outreach to new audiences, and reinvigorate national parks while foraging connections with communities.Congress provided $15 million for the Centennial Challenge projects, which will be matched by almost $33 million more from more than 90 park partners.The 69 projects total almost $48 million and are located at 63 parks in 38 states, the District of Columbia, and the U. S. Virgin Islands.

"As the National Park Service enters its centennial year in 2016, Congress and generous partners across the country are making exceptional investments to improve park facilities, enhance their accessibility and help more visitors –especially young people –discover our nation's inspiring places and stories," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Superintendent Brad Bennett is pleased to be able to implement this project:"This private-public partnership project will help the park replace several damaged and outdated signs while providing a fresh welcome to the public during the 100^th anniversary celebration of the National Park Service. With the support of the Friends, we invite local residents and visitors to discover and experience the many special places throughout this national park –from Chickamauga Battlefield to Lookout Mountain Battlefield, from Signal Point to Orchard Knob, and from Missionary Ridge to Moccasin Bend."