Legislation to be introduced to make Ocmulgee National Historical Park Georgia’s first national park

"I think we'll see legislative action in the first quarter. I hope so," Macon-Bibb Commissioner Seth Clark said.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The ongoing push to make Ocmulgee National Historical Park Georgia’s first national park continues.

Two months after Senator Raphael Warnock toured the park, Macon-Bibb Commissioner and Pro Tem Mayor Seth Clark says the effort is stronger than ever.

“I think we’ll see legislative action in the first quarter. I hope so,” Clark said.

He says Republican Congressman Austin Scott and Democratic Congressman Sanford Bishop, along with Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, have joined in the effort as he continues to lead the Ocmulgee Historical Park and Preserve Initiative.

“I have confidence in their support of this,” Clark said.

The push to make Ocmulgee National Historical Park a national park has been in the works since 1934. Although it hasn’t been successful yet, Clark says the decades of work have paved the way for this new development. He also says the new push has received deep political support from the Muscogee Creek Nation.

Pushing the legislation through would also open the door to more tourists setting foot on the parks’ grounds.

“The time this thing is fully operational as a national park, we’ll go to 1.3 million visitors a year, so think about what that means for our community–that many new people coming in,” President and CEO of Visit Macon Gary Wheat said.

No date has been given on when the legislation will be presented.

Stay with 41NBC for updates on this story as they become available.