Park Seeks Public Input for Quincy Cultural Landscape Report

Date: February 3, 2009
Contact: Steve DeLong, Landscape Architect, 906-337-1104, ext. 122

(Calumet, MI) The National Park Service at Keweenaw National Historical Park is inviting public involvement in the development of the Quincy Unit Cultural Landscape Report (CLR). In accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, the NPS contractors for the project, Quinn Evans | Architects and Woolpert, Inc., will be completing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project. The EA will examine alternatives for treatment of the historic cultural landscape and ultimately prescribe a preferred treatment alternative.

A public meeting, hosted by the City of Hancock, will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 in the city’s Council Chambers located on Quincy Street in downtown Hancock. Any prescribed treatment for the cultural landscape within the Quincy Unit of the park will have broader impacts on the surrounding community, including planning efforts within Hancock, and Franklin and Quincy Townships. Public involvement is critical to the success of the plan.

The project, scheduled for completion this year, will be the park’s first Cultural Landscape Report, which will inform future preservation and visitor services activities within the park boundaries. According to Park Superintendent Jim Corless, "The NPS is looking forward to discussion with area residents and other stakeholders," adding that "their involvement in the process is absolutely necessary in the partnership that is Keweenaw National Historical Park."

The NPS has already conducted several meetings with stakeholders in the Quincy Unit and the contractor, Quinn Evans | Architects, has developed preliminary alternatives for treatment of the cultural landscape within the unit. Those alternatives will be presented at this public meeting, and the attendees will have an opportunity to provide comments and feedback to the contractor and park managers. The public is also encouraged to visit the CLR website – www.nps.gov/kewe/parkmgmt/quincy-clr.htm - where documents and maps are available for download and review. As the process continues, the public may also visit the NPS website for Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) – at planning.nps.gov – to view documents and submit comments.

Comments may also be submitted by mail to park headquarters: Keweenaw NHP, ATTN: Tom Baker, 25970 Red Jacket Road, Calumet, MI 49913. As CLR and Environmental Assessment development progresses, there will be other specific opportunities for the public to be involved; but comments may be submitted at any time. The earlier the NPS receives comments, the greater the chance that those comments will be able to affect the outcomes of the CLR process.