The National Park Service is in the process of conducting the "Chisholm and Great Western National Historic Trail Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment" to determine if they are going to recommend the Chisholm and Great Western Trails in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas to be designated as a National Historic Trail (NHT). 

UPDATE 10/01/10:  The Final Scoping Report on the Chisholm Great Western Feasibility Study is now available.  You can also go to the NPS website for more info on Chisholm Great Western Feasibility Study,

The National Park Service claims this designation would be beneficial, and they provide their perspective in a presentation they have been making in cities along the Chisholm Trail.

However, the vast majority of this land is PRIVATELY OWNED, which raises numerous concerns.  The National Park Service has condemned over 60,000 landowners in Kelo type eminent domain actions.  Several hundred thousand landowners have lost their land to the Park Service under the threat of condemnation. 
 

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Property owners on or near the Chisholm Trail should have significant concerns about the NPS designation of these trails, and what changes and RESTRICTIONS would potentially be imposed on land owners in the future. 

These concerns include:

1.  What are the liability responsibilities land owners might incur with a National Historic Trail running through their private property?  Property owners with railroads running through are very aware that the general public sometimes thinks that a railroad right-of-way is open to everyone.  There is a legitimate concern that the designation of a National Historic Trail would increase the likelihood of this type of trespassing on our private land.

2.  The possibility exists that future restrictions, regulations, environmental assessments, etc. would negatively impact the ability of the property owner to continue their existing use of the land - as farmland, pasture, etc.  Would the property be allowed to subdivide, build a house, or construct improvements on lands they own that are designated as a National Historic Trail?  What additional paperwork, and more importantly approvals, permits, environmental studies, etc. would be required?

3.  What impact would a National Historic Trail have on future values of affected private property?  If the National Park Service chooses to put significant restrictions on the uses of the lands that fall within the designated National Historic Trail, land values would be likely to plummet to next to nothing.

Numerous private property owners have been adversely affected by National Park Service land designations in other areas.  Read testimony from two private property owners who attempted to resist the NPS designations of private property.

The American Land Rights Association has documented numerous abuses of power by the NPS, and private property owners can be devastated in the process.

ALL PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD BE CONCERNED, as should any American who believes the right to own private property is important and that it should be protected.
 

The following introduction to the National Landscape Agenda is from Chuck Cushman, Executive Director of the American Land Rights Association.  Read the complete New National Landscape Agenda article here.

Introduction to the “National Landscape Agenda”:

 

When you read the National Landscape Agenda below just published by the American Society of Landscape Architects, consider it to be a partnership with the Big Park 8 volume National Park expansion play published by the National Parks and Conservation Association. The plans together paint a target on your back.

 

When either plan talks about new parks and conservation areas, they are always talking about the removal of existing families, ranchers, businesses and the historic peoples of the area. That means land acquisition. Land acquisition is government forced acquisition of private property using Kelo type condemnation otherwise called eminent domain.

 

If they don’t use condemnation, it means the landowners are forced to sell “willingly” under threat of condemnation. Condemnation is always used by the Park Service as a threat to get you to sell “willingly.” When the National Park Service condemns a landowner and they go to court to fight over price, if the landowner settles before a judge rules, the sale is always listed by the Park Service as a “willing seller” situation when the NPS reports to Congress.

 

You can look at the maps below and get an idea of whether you or your neighbors, friends or local community are targets and are in danger. You need to begin to fight the National Landscape Agenda now and urge your friends and others to do the same thing.

 

Look at Big Park. That is the 8 volume plan by the National Parks and Conservation Association first written in 1988. It is still fresh today. Especially with the author of the Big Park 8 Volume NPCA Plan being Destry Jarvis, the brother of Jon Jarvis, the new director of the National Park Service.

 

Chuck Cushman
Executive Director

 

American Land Rights Association

PO Box 400

Battle Ground, WA 98604

(360) 687-3087

ccushman@pacifier.com

 

Read the complete New National Landscape Agenda article here.

Please email ChisholmTrailLandowners@gmail.com
 

• Prepare a report of public meetings and comments - Summer, 2010
• Gather data on route location and interpretive and recreational opportunities, and determine national significance - Winter, 2010-2011
• Apply national historic trail criteria and develop draft alternatives - Spring, 2011
• Prepare draft feasibility study and environmental assessment - Summer, 2011
• Conduct public review of the draft study - Fall & Winter, 2011-2012
• Address public review comments and prepare the final document - Summer, 2012
• Transmit to the U.S. Congress - Fall, 2012

For a history of the Chisholm Trail, go to www.thechisholmtrail.com