President Barack Obama signed a bill to make Pinnacles National Monument the newest national park Thursday morning.
H.R. 3641 was approved by the U.S. Senate Dec. 30. The president’s signature was the last requirement to make it official.
The bill elevates the 26,000-acre monument to the 59th National Park. It is the first national park created by Congress since 2004.
Superintendent Karen Beppler-Dorn said as soon as the president signed the park bill, she would begin work on coordinating a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the elevation of Pinnacles to national park status.
Mark Paxton, interim executive director of Pinnacles Partnership, said Thursday morning that he was excited to receive the news from Beppler-Dorn that Obama had signed the bill.
After the Senate approved the bill, Muenzer said he was glad for the potential it offers San Benito County.
“It is very exciting news,” Muenzer said. “I’m so very happy it was able to get through, and hopefully the president will sign it real soon.”
Muenzer traveled to Washington, D.C. in June to testify before the subcommittee on National Parks, Forest and Public Lands in support of the bill.
“It will have an increase in the amount of visitors,” he said. “It will mean more people driving through San Benito County to get to the park and something we should be able to capitalize on.”
Beppler-Dorn received a call from Farr on Sunday evening letting her know the bill just awaits the signature of the president to make it official.
She said one thing will change for sure when the bill is signed to make the monument a national park.
U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer praised President Obama for signing the Pinnacles National Park Act into law, a change that is anticipated to draw more national recognition and tourism to an area of California renowned for its natural beauty. The legislation was introduced in the Senate by Boxer and in the House by Farr.
“I thank President Obama for signing this bill, which will help us attract even more visitors from around the world to one of California’s greatest treasures,” Boxer said, in a press release. “Pinnacles is renowned for its spectacular beauty and unique wildlife, and elevating it to a National Park will ensure that it gets the recognition it deserves while also boosting the area’s tourism economy.”
