Imagine a place that has seen the human history of our continent from almost the very beginning -- a place that has had continuous human habitation for 17,000 years. Imagine a place with sites that tell the story of our country and an ecosystem found nowhere else in the world.
Now, imagine that place becoming Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve.
This is Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.
Our Vision
With growing national attention focused upon the necessity of preservation of our public lands, we’ve committed to being the driving force behind local conservation efforts. We hope to see the Park and Preserve become a nationally protected resource, available to future generations for recreational kayaking and canoeing, fishing, hunting, bird-watching, outdoor exercise, historical enrichment and cultural appreciation.
Our Mission
The Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI) is a community based group of Middle Georgia and Muscogee (Creek) citizens working together to expand the current site of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park into Georgia’s first National Park and Preserve.
ONPPI Areas of Focus
Thanks to our supporters and partners, we’ve protected hundreds of acres for the future expansion of the Ocmulgee Mounds into a National Park and Preserve, and we aim to protect tens of thousands more. Donor gifts help improve our conservation efforts, increase our cultural outreach, protect wildlife and broaden our efforts to educate the public and members of Congress about the vital importance of creating the first National Park in the State of Georgia. Explore our focus areas below to see ONPPI’s current and past projects.
Conservation
ONPPI is committed to encouraging conservation measures that will propagate Ocmulgee’s diverse wildlife, including threatened species. The corridor’s landscape supports an astounding array of documented wildlife species. This includes 32 mammal species, 170 species of birds, 26 amphibian species, 31 fish species and 35 reptile species. Many of these are designated as threatened, as such the park provides an important haven for their preservation. Your support can fund projects to help ensure that the animals that make their seasonal or year-round homes in Ocmulgee are around for the enjoyment of future generations.
Engagement
People have lived in and traveled through the area now known as Ocmulgee for over 17,000 years. Human stories are woven deeply into the park’s past and present. ONPPI is proud to partner with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to tell not only our shared history, but also the ancestral importance of Ocmulgee to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Your support can fund efforts to study, share, honor and learn from those cultural and historical legacies.
Advocacy
We believe through civic engagement we can achieve making Ocmulgee Mounds into a National Park and Preserve and ensure this crown jewel of our country’s cultural and environmental legacy is around for generations to come. Smart policy and stable funding are critical for the success of the Ocmulgee River Corridor. ONNPI pursues political advocacy to guide legislation. We educate, train and mobilize our members and partners to be effective advocates for the Ocmulgee Mounds and Ocmulgee River Corridor. We also work to build consensus about broader policy that impacts our partners and Ocmulgee’s future at the local, state and federal levels.
