by Barb Cline
America Just Got a New National Park
Since 1978, the New River Gorge has been managed by the National Park Service. But now, West Virginia is hopeful that this new status of the Gorge will encourage out-of-towners to travel to Southeast West Virginia and boost tourism for their local businesses.
The official title of the Bill as introduced by Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Capito and Congressperson Carol Miller on October 4, 2019, into the House of Representatives: To designate the New River Gorge National River in the State of West Virginia as the “New River Gorge National Park and Preserve,” and for other purposes.
The New River Gorge will become the 63rd National Park, the first in West Virginia, and the 20th National Preserve in the United States. As a result, the New River Gorge National Park is also designated as a National Preserve, with 7,021 acres of scenic riverfront pinned for ultra-protected national park status, and the remaining 65,165 acres carrying over current hunting and fishing access as a national preserve. Its dual-status makes it the first of its kind outside of Alaska.
This new designation is also a signal that West Virginia is moving away from its prominence as a coal-mining state and towards one of increasing conservation and recreation. This is one of West Virginia’s most treasured playgrounds because of its outdoor sports, fishing, rafting, hunting, and natural beauty. There are a thousand reasons to smile about our newest national park.
