Public invited to comment on Gullah/Geechee plans

Public comment will be heard Monday in Hollywood regarding the future of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.

A National Heritage Area, the corridor was designated by Congress in 2006 and extends from Wilmington, N.C., southward through coastal South Carolina to Jacksonville, Fla.

The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday at Hollywood Town Hall, 6322 S.C. Highway 162.

A management plan is being developed by the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission.

The planning effort is expected to take about three years and will determine the direction of the corridor for the next 10 to 15 years.

The public is invited to attend meetings, to learn more about the management planning process and to comment.

Public input is being sought for the vision, mission and purpose of the corridor. Public input is encouraged regarding places and issues that are important, to Gullah/Geechee heritage.

"Participation by the public is crucial to the success of this important planning effort," Commission Chairman Emory Campbell said.

"We want the public to tell us what they think and how they would like to see their resources, arts and traditions preserved, interpreted and managed in the future," he said.

Those unable to attend meetings can submit comments by visiting the National Park Service planning Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/guge.

For information contact Michael Allen at 881-5516 ext.12, or visit the corridor's Web site at www.nps.gov/guge.