Boston African American National Historic Site General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior BOSTON AFRICAN AMERICAN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE General Management Plan Environmental Assessment Policy DRAFT - July 2007 Cover illustration: Abiel Smith School, 46 Joy Street, Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, contact: Site Manager Boston African American National Historic Site 14 Beacon Street Suite 401 Boston, MA 02108 (617) 742-5415 [email protected] BOSTON AFRICAN AMERICAN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Boston African American National Historic Site Boston, Massachusetts National Park Service United States Department of the Interior 2008 Preface After years of hard work, including historical research, sociological assessments, planning ses- sions, and multiple revisions, we are proud to publish the Boston African American National Historic Site General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment. The enterprise that produced this document was worthy of the African Meeting House, the Museum of African American History, and the Abiel Smith School -- a truly communal effort. With not only the officials and professionals charged with the welfare of the site, but also a wide array of scholars, activists, his- tory enthusiasts, and community well-wishers involved in the process, the management plan/en- vironmental assessment is more than merely an important regulatory document, but has become a testament to the important history of the free African American population of Boston. It is espe- cially gratifying that this plan includes considerations of environmental, social, and demographic factors, coupling thoroughness and far-sightedness with caring and dedication. Just as Boston looms large in the cultural imagination of our country, especially during the period from the American Revolution to the antebellum period, and beyond, its “free colored society” was equally seminal in shaping the ideals of the ongoing American experiment in interracial democracy. The courageous struggles of this proud group of citizens informed the thinking, and inspired the actions of some of the greatest freedom fighters and orators of the day, from Wil- liam Lloyd Garrison to Frederick Douglass, from Thaddeus Stevens to Abraham Lincoln. As the conscience of the nation’s most progressive forces, the buildings and homes that comprise the Boston African American National Historic Site preserve in tangible form the history of so many anonymous patriots whose legacy we all enjoy. It is in this spirit that we worked to produce this document. It still needs to be said that extraordinary things come about due to singular efforts made by ex- ceptional people. In this regard there are many to thank for the success of this process, but a few whose outstanding efforts deserve special mention: Terry Savage, Superintendent, Boston Nation- al Historical Park and Boston African American National Historic Site, JT Reynolds, Superinten- dent, Death Valley National Park, California, and Robin White, Superintendent, William Howard Taft National Historic Site, Cincinnati, Ohio all lent their expertise as site superintendents. Sarah Peskin, Director of Special Planning Projects for the Northeast Region brought her office to bear, insuring the compatibility of the plan with the overall mission and the exigencies of the National Park Service. Appreciation is also due to Dean Eastman, a retired teacher who grew up and worked in New England, and Valerie Cunningham, from the Black Heritage Trail in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Thanks go out to Ruth Raphael, Planner, Boston National Historical Park; Marty Blatt, Chief Historian, Boston National Historical Park; Beverly Morgan Welch, Executive Director, the Museum of African American History; Chandra Harrington, Curator of Exhibits, the Museum of African American History for holding down the fort, as it were. The staff of the Bos- ton African American National Historic Site and the many scholars assembled all benefited from the spirit and efforts of Michael Terranova, history enthusiast and National Park Service volunteer and Beacon Hill resident and neighbor. Kenneth Heidelberg, Site Manager, and Bernadette Williams, Supervisory Park Ranger, Boston African American National Historic Site. Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................5 1. Planning Background .............................................................................................................6 1.1. Purpose and Need for the Plan ........................................................................................6 1.2. Historical Overview ........................................................................................................7 1.3. Site Significance ..............................................................................................................9 1.4. Site Interpretive Themes................................................................................................ 11 1.5. Planning Issues ..............................................................................................................12 1.5.1. Resource Preservation and Management 1.5.2. Interpretation and Visitor Learning 1.5.3. Visitor Use and Experience 1.5.4. Management, Partnerships, and Operations 1.6. Management Goals ........................................................................................................13 1.6.1. Resource Preservation and Management 1.6.2. Interpretation and Visitor Learning 1.6.3. Visitor Use and Experience 1.6.4. Management, Partnerships, and Operations 1.7. Existing Conditions .......................................................................................................13 1.8. Related Plans and Programs ..........................................................................................16 2. Alternatives ............................................................................................................................18 2.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................18 2.2. The Context for Alternatives .........................................................................................18 2.2.1.BOAF’s Management Goals 2.2.2. Management Prescriptions 2.3. Overview of Alternatives ...............................................................................................22 2.4. Status Quo Alternative: Current Management Strategies ..............................................22 2.4.1. Intent 2.4.2. Description 2.5. Alternative 1: Improve Operations ................................................................................23 2.5.1. Intent 2.5.2. Description 2.6. Alternative 2: Preferred Alternative: Expand Outreach a Broader BOAF Story to a Wider Public ..................................................................... 30 2.6.1. Intent 2.6.2. Description 2.7. Management Prescriptions Common to Both Action Alternatives ...............................37 2.8. Supplemental Management Prescriptions for Alternative 2: Preferred Alternative ......44 2.9. Alternatives Eliminated from Further Study .................................................................47 2.10. Summary Comparison of Alternatives ........................................................................47 2.10.1. Characteristics of Alternatives 2.10.2. Environmental Consequences 1 3. Affected Environment ...........................................................................................................62 3.1. Cultural Resources .......................................................................................................62 3.1.1. Historic Districts and Structures 3.1.2. Archaeological Resources 3.1.3. Ethnographic Resources 3.1.4. Cultural Landscapes 3.1.5. Archives and Collections 3.2. Natural Resources ..........................................................................................................66 3.2.1. Air Quality 3.2.2. Open Space and Parks 3.2.3. Vegetation 3.2.4. Wildlife 3.2.5. Threatened and Endangered Species 3.3. Visitor Experience .........................................................................................................67 3.3.1. Museums and Interpretive Programs 3.3.2. Educational Programs 3.4. Socioeconomic Resources .............................................................................................68 3.4.1. Community Character and Land Use 3.4.2. Community Concerns 3.4.3. Tourism 3.4.4. Demographics and Economy 3.5. Transportation and Access .............................................................................................73 3.5.1. Road Network/Traffic Conditions 3.5.2. Public Transportation 3.5.3. Pedestrian and Bicycle Access 3.5.4. Parking 3.6. Site Operations ..............................................................................................................76 3.6.1. Partnerships 3.6.2. NPS Personnel/Staffing 3.6.3. Site Facilities and Support 4. Environmental Consequences ..............................................................................................79 4.1. Impact Assessment Overview .......................................................................................79 4.2. Regulatory Framework ..................................................................................................79 4.3. Environmental Assessment Scoping Issues ...................................................................80