The Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway) proposes to remove three historic Mission 66 era buildings at the Rocky Springs site in Claiborne County, Mississippi. Two are comfort stations that were built in 1965, and one is a visitor contact station built in 1968.
In 1955, National Park Service (NPS) Director Conrad Wirth developed the Mission 66 program to upgrade facilities and visitor services in preparation for its 50th anniversary in 1966. NPS architects were influenced by post-World War II modern architectural styles and subsequently developed a style described today as Park Service Modern.
The decision to demolish the comfort stations was based on increased maintenance costs, lack of compliance with accessibility regulations, and the inability to feasibly retrofit the buildings to achieve compliance.
In accordance with §106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and the Advisory Council’s regulations, 36 CFR Part 800, we invite the public to consult with the Parkway regarding the above-referenced undertaking.
How to Provide Feedback
A public comment period will open between July 12 and August 12, 2019. The public is encouraged to comment about the proposal electronically via the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/RockySpringsMission66. Comments will also be accepted in writing. Submit written comments to:
Superintendent
Natchez Trace Parkway
2680 Natchez Trace Parkway
Tupelo, MS 38804
Before you include your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information (PII) in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your PII information – may be made public at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your PII from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
