What’s new at Gettysburg’s Little Round Top
GETTYSBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — There was a big celebration Monday at Little Round Top at Gettysburg National Military Park. The hill has reopened to the public after almost 20 months – time spent fixing decades of wear and tear.
“Little Round Top, where we are today, had essentially been loved to death,” says David Duncan, President of the American Battlefield Trust. “It was so widely visited, the trails were worn down and dangerous, parking was problematic.”
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Steve Sims is a former Superintendent of the park. He came back to speak at the ceremony.
“As our mission in NPS is to preserve and protect in perpetuity, we needed to do something to preserve and protect LIttle Round Top.”
Old trails have been renovated, new trails have been established, and both are more accessible to people with mobility issues. Asphalt trails have been rebuilt; dirt trails have been replaced by stabilized aggregate, which looks like dirt, but holds up much better. Eroded areas have been stabilized and replanted. Gathering areas have been established for large groups.
Little Round Top at Gettysburg close to reopening
The parking lot has been rebuilt with crosswalks and special areas for large vehicles like buses.
Many of those who arrived by bus to attend the ceremony came from three groups; the Gettysburg Foundation, the National Park Foundation, and the American Battlefield Trust. They raised over 5.2 million dollars to help fund the project.
“Please don’t think an effort like this is inevitable,” says David Duncan. “It takes determination, it takes leadership, and it takes generosity.”
Once the ribbon was cut, it was time for people to see the new Little Round Top for the first time. For Rita Frealing, the Mayor of Gettysburg, this was her first look since the closure.
New trails to explore at Gettyburg’s Little Round Top
“I think it’s absolutely wonderful, what they’ve done to restore this area. It just brings tears to my eyes, because this is a very important segment of the Battle of Gettysburg.”
The Interim President of the Gettysburg Foundation, David Malgee, is also impressed.
“I think it’s going to be a wonderful, wonderful gift to the American people. I think people are going to come by the hundreds of thousands just to see this spot in its rehabilitated state.”
Kristina Heister, current superintendent of the park, is leaving the final verdict on their work to those who come see it.
“I can’t wait to see how the American public responds to what we’ve done here. I hope that they enjoy it.”
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