Last month, following Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan, bicameral push, the National Park Service announced it intends to nominate the Okefenokee as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Last month, Sen. Ossoff also urged the State of Georgia to reject strip mining near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Fargo, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is delivering new resources to renovate the campgrounds at Stephen C. Foster State Park.
Sen. Ossoff is delivering a $1.6 million Federal grant through the Land and Water Conservation Fund to improve safety and connectivity within the park, while also taking steps to improve preservation measures at the campgrounds within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
According to the National Park Service, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will use the funding for the reconfiguration of existing campsites, water and power infrastructure upgrades, and upgrades to the stormwater management at the Stephen C. Foster State Park.
The funding will also be used for new pedestrian trails to link campers to the main trail that loops around the park, connecting visitors to other recreational resources.
“Like so many Georgians, paddling and camping near the Okefenokee was a formative outdoor experience from my childhood” Sen. Ossoff said. “I’m delivering these resources to upgrade the tourist experience with more options for Georgia families and to conserve the precious natural environment at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.”
Last month, following Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan push, the National Park Service announced it intends to nominate the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list.
Citing warnings from leading scientists and experts, Sen. Ossoff submitted in February his formal opposition to the proposed strip mine next to the Okefenokee Swamp.
In September 2022, at Sen. Ossoff’s invitation, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland joined him to survey the Refuge and meet with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials on the refuge’s conservation status and environmental risks. They also heard directly from local leaders about the importance of protecting the refuge for the communities in the area.
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