Fort Pulaski National Monument / NPS

Fort Pulaski National Monument, built on Cockspur Island between Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia, is in a low-lying coastal area prone to flooding during storms and as sea level rises. The National Park Service invites the public to comment on proposed developments meant to mitigate future damage.

Fort Pulaski was the site of the Union Army's cannon test-firing facility during the Civil War. It also served for a time as a prisoner-of-war camp. 

The NPS invites the public to review and comment on the proposed development concept plan for Fort Pulaski National Monument. The purpose of the development concept plan is to provide comprehensive guidance for addressing the national monument's facility and infrastructure deficiencies in the wake of recent storms and continued sea level rise. In addition, the inherent obsolescence of facilities has outlived their life cycle and do not meet current laws and regulations, or the evolving needs of the park. The development concept plan would help the National Park Service provide a safe and quality visitor experience and ensure that adequate and resilient facilities are developed to protect park resources and support monument operations and park-partner access requirements on Cockspur Island.  

The following concepts are proposed to help address issues identified during this planning process:
 

• Relocate the entrance booth closer to the visitor center and provide a queueing lane for entry. 
• Construct a new building near the US Coast Guard station to house park maintenance, cultural and natural resources, and law enforcement staff and equipment. 
• Add a third tier of parking and a large vehicle turnaround at the visitor center parking area. 
• Modify fort parking entrance road to use the original alignment and use a one-way loop. 
• Ensure that Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) standards are met by improving the picnic area and restrooms. 
• Relocate the Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) campsites to the field across from the maintenance yard.

The NPS has prepared and is making available for public review an environmental assessment to evaluate the effects of proposed actions in the development concept plan, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The development concept plan/environmental assessment is available for a 30-day public review and comment period and can be accessed on the project website at: 

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/fortpulaskidcp.

Comments must be submitted by November 9, 2024.

Written comments may also be mailed to: Park Superintendent, Attention: DCP/EA, Fort Pulaski National Monument, 41 Cockspur Island Road, Savannah, GA 31410.