This GMP will be a forward-looking document outlining steps for protecting resources, providing improved visitor experiences, and improving operations at Liberty and Ellis Islands. Each national park creates a GMP every 20 years or so, or when there are major changes in park development or direction. In this case, the need for the 2006 GMP is inspired by a little bit of both. The last major plan was completed in 1982. Since then, we’ve seen: The restoration of the Statue of Liberty in 1986, The opening of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in 1990, The increase of visitors from one million in 1982 to more than five million in 2000 (although the numbers have decreased in 2002 and 2003), and The increased security measures necessitated by September 11th. NPS started this plan in May 2003 and after public input in fall 2003, planners will propose several alternative directions in the spring of 2004. The public will have opportunities to comment on the alternatives prior to the development of a draft plan and draft environmental impact statement (EIS) in the spring of 2005. The final plan will be issued by the spring of 2006. The resulting GMP and EIS will provide guidelines for park management over the next 15 to 20 years. Explore further dimensions of the plan and the planning process: >     Need For a Plan >     Planning Issues >     Planning Process >     Planning Outcome