The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy, a non-profit organization that supports Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area activities, has begun a resource page to inform the public about federal policy and funding changes in Washington.
On the resource page, the philanthropy said that “CRNRA is facing some challenges that are affecting how the park operates and serves our community, and we want to make sure you’re informed about what’s happening and how it could impact your experience.”
Tbe CRNRA includes several units in East Cobb, including the Gold Branch unit on Lower Roswell Road and the Cochran Shoals unit at the end of Columns Drive.
The most recent update concerned the present budget bill in Congress (aka the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) and noted that the legislation that passed the U.S. House this week cuts “$267 million in remaining funds from the Inflation Reduction Act designated for the National Park Service. These funds were intended to support critical staffing needs, including positions for rangers, emergency responders, curators, and scientists.
“While the full impact on CRNRA is not yet clear, we are deeply concerned about what this could mean for our park — which already operates with limited resources and staffing. Further cuts, combined with an ongoing federal hiring freeze, could severely hinder the park’s ability to function effectively.
“We worry that CRNRA may be stretched so thin that it will be forced to shift from proactive stewardship to reactive triage, focusing primarily on essential operations to keep the park open and support visitor needs. This could jeopardize critical efforts like protecting natural resources, conducting scientific research, and offering the programs and experiences that connect our community to the park.”
On its Facebook page, the conservancy stated that “these obstacles are real, but so is the spirit of the community that loves and supports CRNRA. Together, we can overcome these challenges and continue to enhance and preserve this treasured space for generations to come.”
The updates also are being provided on the Facebook page,
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