Editor's note: The following is an unedited release from the National Park Service.

National Park Service is holding a public meeting on the Muir Woods Sustainable Access Project on Monday, June 27th from 6 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. at the Tamalpais High School Student Center (700 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94961). This project is intended to preserve resources in the Redwood Creek Watershed and enhance the visitor experience by improving parking, transit, and pedestrian access at Muir Woods National Monument.

The proposed project may include the redesign and reorganization of existing parking areas at Muir Woods to maximize parking efficiency and improve the flow of traffic in and out of the lots. Former maintenance areas near the monument entrance may be converted into visitor parking lots as cars are removed from the road shoulder and plaza lot to allow for restoration. Measures may also be taken to improve water quality in Redwood Creek by capturing storm water runoff from parking areas.

“The Muir Woods Sustainable Access Project would enable GGNRA to continue taking positive steps to preserve natural resources and maintain a high level of visitor experience while addressing the popularity of the national monument,” said Aaron Roth, Deputy Superintendent of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. “These actions will support an inspiring visitor experience worthy of this extraordinary redwood ecosystem, which provides refuge for 1,000-year old redwood trees, threatened northern spotted owls, endangered Coho salmon, and their neighbors.”

In December, the National Park Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Marin outlining a series of collaborative steps to address congestion and parking for Muir Woods National Monument. The Muir Woods Sustainable Access Project, along with the MOU and Muir Woods Reservation System (scheduled for implementation in 2017) support the commitments made in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s 2014 General Management Plan.

Public scoping and comment for the Muir Woods Sustainable Access Project began in the fall of 2013. The project scope has been refined through further analysis and a growing understanding of public interests. An environmental assessment will be released for public review and comment in late fall of 2016. The environmental assessment will incorporate compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act.