General Management Plan Workshop, March 3, 1998 Summary of alternatives

The following Tables present key characteristics of the four Alternatives for each of the Management Plan Elements:

Table 1: Management Plan Elements - identifies the key elements of the GMP in relationship to the Park's Mission goals
Table 2: Land and Resource Management - highlighting actions recommended for each Alternative within each of the Management Zones.
Table 3: Interpretive Facilities and Services Management - describing the key management actions recommended for each major type of interpretation, by Alternative.
Table 4: Visitor Use and Park Facilities Management - summarizing actions recommended to manage visitor use and circulation, as well as park and visitor support facilities.
Table 5: Mission Goal Effectiveness - relates each alternative to the Park's Mission goals.
Table 6: Environmental and Other Impacts - indicates relative scales of impacts of each GMP Alternative

Table 1: Management Plan Elements

Management Plan Element	Mission Goal	Types of Management Prescriptions
Land and Resource Management	All significant resources associated with the Battle of Gettysburg (historical landscapes, structures, archeological sites, curatorial objects, and cultural landscapes) are protected, restored, and maintained in good condition	Define park management zones and their purposes Define policies and guidelines for resource management in each management zone
Interpretation Facilities and Services Management	The public understands and respects significant events , associated with the Gettysburg Campaign and their impact upon the development of the nation	Define park-wide interpretive goals Provide guidance for how these goals will be realized park-wide and within the park's management zones
Visitor Use and Park Facilities Management	Visitors safely enjoy high quality educational experiences, accessible to all segments of the population	Define, in general, where major park facilities should be located Provide guidance on how visitor activities should be managed in order to protect resource qualities and to respond to carrying capacities of the landscape
Partnerships and Cooperative Activities Management	Public and private entities understand the park's mission and act cooperatively with park management to protect and interpret resources	Define cooperative management initiatives which can protect park-related resources outside the park boundaries Provide guidance on mechanisms to attract non-NPS human and financial resources in support of the park's goals

Table 2: Land and Resource Management Characteristics of Alternatives

Management Zones	Alternative 1 No Action	Alternative 2 Minimum Required Action	Alternative 3 Restoration of Significant Battlefield Elements Relevant to Battle Outcome	Alternative 4 Maximum Battlefield Restoration
Zone 1 Battle Action Areas	Not applicable*	Manage landscape to reinstate and preserve open and wooded spatial and characteristics of the 1863 landscape	Manage landscape to reinstate and preserve open wooded spatial characteristics of the 1863 landscape Restore selected landscapefeatures (trails, lanes, fences, orchards, etc.) and buildings which were significant to the outcome of the battle Manage 1863 woodlots to maintain open views in areas which were significant to theoutcome of the battle	Manage landscape to reinstate and preserve open and wooded spatial characteristics of the 1863 landscape Restore maximum feasible landscape features (trails, lanes, fences, orchards, etc.) and buildings from 1863 period Manage 1863 woodlots to maintain open views in areas which were significant to the outcome of the battle Remove non-historic and non-contributing structures and landscape features
Zone 2: Rear Support Areas	Not Applicable*		Preserve existing landscape characteristics Manage landscape to reinstate and preserve open and wooded spatial characteristics of the 1863 landscape	Same as Zone 1, for this Alternative
Zone 3: Battlefield Commemoration Area	Retain current management areas and policies	Maintain and restore current monuments and monument groupings Limit new monuments to those authorized by Congress	Restore current monuments, monument groups, and commemorative features to convey their original design intent Limit new monuments to those authorized by Congress	Restore current monuments, monument groups, and commemorative features to convey their original design intent Restore missing commemorative features Prohibit new monuments
Zone 4: Soldier's National Cemetery	Retain Current management areas and policies from existing General Managment Plan	Restore pattern of open and massed vegetaion in original Saunders' design Maintain current conditions and management policies in the rest of the cemetery	Restore pattern of open and massed vegetaion in original Saunders' design including regrading in the center of burial, walkway and reestablish other missing features. Remove post-Saunders era features	Same as Alternative 3, plus ????
Zone 5: Visitors and Park Support Facilities	Not Applicable*	Maintain existing landscape between existing maintenance and service areas and battle landscape	Maintain existing landscape between existing maintenance and service areas and battle landscape Locate new visitor service and park operations uses so the existing wooded areas can shield them from view from the Battle Action areas	Relocate most visitor services to a central location, outside the Battle Action zone Locate new visitor service and park operations uses so that existing wooded areas can shield them from view from the Battle Action areas

*This zone not applicable to existing General Management Plan

Table 3: Interpretive Facilities and Services Management Characteristics of Alternatives

Types of Interpretive Facilities and Services	Alternative 1: No Action	Alternative 2 Minimum Required Action	Alternative 3 Restoration of Significant Battlefield Elements Relevant to Battle Outcome	Alternative 4 Maximum Battlefield Restoration
Central Overview Interpretation at Visitor Center and Cyclorama	Maintain existing Visitor Center and Cyclorama at current location	Develop new Visitor Center, Cyclorama, associated services, and related facilities outside Battle Action Zone. Provide expanded overview of the Gettysburg Campaign to place Battle in context Diversify interpretation to include points of view of combatants and noncombatants	Develop new Visitor Center, Cyclorama, associated services, and related facilities outside Battle Action Zone. Provide expanded overview of the Gettysburg Campaign to place Battle in context Diversify interpretation to include Points of view of combatants and noncombatants	Develop flew Visitor Center, Cyclorama, associated services, and related facilities outside Battle Action Zone. Provide expanded overview of the Gettysburg Campaign to place Battle in context Diversify interpretation to include points of view of combatants and noncombatants
Battlefield and Other Interpretation:	Continue existing battlefield interpretive methods Provide interpretive links to the town's interpretive pathway system	Continue existing battlefield interpretive methods, expanding areas to be interpreted to take advantage of landscape improvements Provide interpretive links to the town's interpretive pathway system	Develop a variety of visually un-intrusive interpretive methods (audio, pamphlets, personal tours) to portray the meaning of the landscape Incorporate pathways and I2 interpretive venues at center of the borough to communicate town's relationship to battle and its commemoration	Orient battlefield interpretation to the commemorative zone, as originally intended when the park was established Provide interpretive links to the town's interpretive pathway system
Auto Tour	Retain existing self-guided tour route, oriented to the three days of the battle	Retain existing self-guidcd tour route, oriented to the three days of the Battle	Retain existing self-guidcd tour route, oriented to the three days of the Battle	Initiate interpretive tour route at slow speed, as intended by avenue designers
Ranger Tours	Continue to focus Ranger tours on those limited areas where the battlefield landscape allows for clear communication of decisive engagements of the battle	Expand Ranger tours, taking advantage of many new areas of the battlefield where the landscape allows for clear communication of decisive engagements of the battle	Expand Ranger tours to potentially include the entirety of the Battle Action Area, utilizing the resources of the new Visitor Center to allow visitors to customize their experiences	Orient Ranger tours to the commemorative avenues, potentially initiating battlefield routs from designated tram stops
Licensed Battlefield Guide Tours	Maintain LBG licensing and tour offerings from existing Visitor Center	Maintain LBG licensing and tour offerings from existing Visitor Center	Maintain LBG licensing and tour offerings from existing Visitor Center	Maintain LBG licensing and tour offerings from existing Visitor Center, with potential involvement in battlefield loop tours
Bus and or Tram Tours	Retain existing system of private busses and tour licensing	Retain existing system of private busses and tour licensing Explore new interpretive shuttle routes to provide interpretation and to relieve traffic at heavily visited sites	Retain existing system of private busses and tour licensing Explore new interpretive shuttle routes to provide interpretation and to relieve traffic at heavily visited sites	Initiate battle-wide interpretive tram and shuttle routes, potentially offering multiple choices departing from the Visitor Center
Commemorative Interpretation	Maintain existing interpretive materials on waysides, markers, and in cemetery	Maintain existing interpretive materials on waysides, markers, and in cemetery	Maintain existing interpretive materials on waysides, markers, and in cemetery	Eliminate contemporary wayside markers Reinstate protective area around monuments and markers, reinforcing original design intent within commemorative area

Table 4: Visitor Use and Park Facilities Management Characteristics of Alternatives

Visitor Use Management	Alternative 1 No Action	Alternative 2 Minimum Required Action	Alternative 3 Restoration of Significant Battlefield Elements Relevant to Battle Outcome	Alternative 4 Maximum Battlefield Restoration
Automobile access	Existing Avenue system, one-way operation in segments, open to public	Existing Avenue system, one-way operation in segments Manage and/or restrict traffic in areas susceptible to resource degradation or over-use in peak periods	Existing Avenue system, one-way operation in segments Manage and/or restrict traffic in areas susceptible to resource degradation or over-use in peak periods	Existing Avenue system, one-way operation in segments Manage commemorative avenue system to favor shuttle vehicles in peak periods
Parking	Maintain existing Visitor Center parking, overflow lots, scattered lots, and roadside parking	Maintain scattered lots, and roadside parking	Relocate central parking and overflow lots to new Visitor Center location Maintain scattered lots, and roadside parking	Locate all long term parking at Visitor Center, with incentives of price and convenience to encourage visitors to leave cars there and take public transportation
Walking Trails	Maintain existing marked trails	Relocate trails to historic lanes and ways, to maximum degree possible	Relocate trails to historic anes and ways, to maximum degree possible Remove non-historic trails in Battle Action area	Relocate trails to historic lanes and ways, to maximum degree possible Remove non-historic trails in park
Horse Trails	Allow current horse usage, with continuing deterioration	Relocate horse trail to historic lanes and ways, subject to user support for appropriateconstruction to protect resource	Relocate horse trail to historic lanes and ways, subject to user support for appropriate construction to protect resource	Relocate horse trail to historic lanes and ways, subject to user support for appropriate construction to protect resource
Public Transportation	Continue to license private tours, requiring Licensed Battlefield Guides on board	Continue to license private tours, requiring Licensed Battlefield Guides on board Provide shuttle service to highly visited sites in peak periods of use, originating at Visitor Center	Continue to license private tours, requiring Licensed Battlefield Guides on board Provide shuttle service to highly visited sites in peak periods of use and to downtown, originating at Visitor Center	Continue to license private tours, requiring Licensed Battlefield Guides on board Provide park-wide shuttles throughout the park, originating at Visitor Center
Park Facilities
Visitor Center	Maintain current facilities in current location	New state-of-the-art facility outside Battle Action area to incorporate museum, cyclorama, electric map, support uses, parking, and related facilities	New state-of-the-art facility outside Battle Action area to incorporate museum, cyclorama, electric map, support uses, parking, and related facilities	New state-of-the-art facility outside Battle Action area to incorporate museum, cyclorama, electric map, support uses, parking, and related facilities
Amphitheater	Maintain current facilities in current location	Relocate to vicinity of new Visitor Center	Relocate to vicinity of new Visitor Center	Relocate to vicinity of new Visitor Center
Scout Campground	Maintain current facilities in current location	Relocate to vicinity of new Visitor Center or eliminate	Relocate to vicinity of new Visitor Center or eliminate	Relocate to vicinity of new Visitor Center or eliminate
Comfort /Guide Stations	Maintain current facilities in current location	Maintain current facilities in current location	Maintain current facilities in current location	Eliminate, in favor of central facilities at Visitor Center
Picnic Facilities	Maintain current facilities in current location	Relocate all picnic to vicinity of new Visitor Center	Relocate all picnic to vicinity of new Visitor Center	Relocate all picnic to vicinity of new Visitor Center
Park Maintenance	Maintain current facilities in current location	Relocate to Visitor and Park Support Facilities area	Relocate to Visitor and Park Support Facilities area	Relocate to Visitor and Park Support Facilities area

+ + Highly Supportive of Goals
+ Supportive of Goals
0 Little or No Support of Goals
- Contrary to Goals
-- Highly Contrary to Goals

Table 5: Responsiveness of Alternatives to Park's Mission Goals

Major Mission Goals	Sub-Goals	Alternative 1 No Action	Alternative 2 Minimum Action Required	Alternative 3 Restoration of Significant Battlefield Elements	Alternative 4 Maximum Battlefield Restoration
Resource Preservation	Historic structures and monuments are restored and maintained to contemporary preservation standards	0	+	++	++
	Parks historic landscape is preserved, including elements that were pivotal to the battle	-	+	++	++
	Park's natural resources are maintained and managed to support historic landscapes	-	+	+	+
	Park's archeological sites are known or can be predicted and are in good condition	0	+	++	++
	Park's scenic qualities and setting are preserved and enhanced	0	+	++	++
	Land uses, including agriculture, are appropriate to historical and cultural landscape in the Park	-	0	+	++
Interpretation	Visitors understand the significance of the Gettysburg Campaign to the Civil War's outcome	-	++	++	++
	Visitors understand impact of the Gettysburg Address on the War and reunification of the nation	-	++	++	++
	Visitors understand the impacts of the battle and War on individual soldiers and non-combatants	-	+	++	++
	Visitors are satisfied with the interpretive programs and sources provided within the Park	0	++	++	++
Visitor Experience	Visitors are satisfied with the availability, accessibility, and quality of Park facilities	0	++	++	+
	Visitors are satisfied with the availability, accessibility, and quality of Park services	0	++	++	+
	Park facilities and services support the historic character and interpretive mission of the Park	--	+	++	++
Partnership	Effective measures have been implemented to ensure protection of key resources outside NPS boundary	0	++	++	++
	Mechanisms are in place to attract non-NPS financial and other resources to the Partes mission	0	++	++	++

+ + + Substantial Positive Impact
+ + Moderate Positive Impact
+ Minor Positive Impact
0 Little or No Impact
- Minor Negative Impact
-- Moderate Negative Impact
--- Severe Negative Impact

Table 6: Environmental and Other Impacts

Management Elements	Impacts	Alternative 1 No Action	Alternative 2 Minimum Required Action	Alternative 3 Restoration of Significant Battlefield	Alternative 4 Maximum Battlefield Restoration
Cultural Resources	Historic Buildings and Districts	0	+	+	+
	Archeological Resources	0	0	0	0
	Cultural Landscapes	--	++	+++	+++
Natural Resources	Water Resources	0	+	+	+
	Wetlands and Floodplain	-	+	+	+
	Flora	-	+	+	+
	Wildlife and aquatic Life	0	0	0	0
	Species of Special Concern	0	+	+	+
	Energy	0	0	0	0
	Natural or Depletable Resources	0	0	0	0
	Prime or Unique Farmlands	0	0	0	0
	Air and Noise Quality	0	0	0	0
Interpretation And Visitor Use	Overall Park Visitation	0	+	+	+
	Park Operations Efficiency	0	+	++	++
Partnership/ Community	Regional Economy* Local Business*
	Socio-economic characteristics	0	0	0	0
	Traffic and parking - in the Park* Traffic and parking - *outside the Park
	Land Use	0	0	0	0
	Public Health and Safety	0	0	0	0

* Impacts under study