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Refurbishment of the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » Refurbishment of the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground » Document List

The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, will make improvements to the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground as part of the park's 2010 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Price Days event. The Paw Paw Tunnel Campground is one of the most popular group camping areas in the western region of the park. As a result, the campground is used almost daily. The campground does not currently have adequate campsite delineation, campfire rings, or picnic tables.

Using volunteers, the project will include the following components;

• Reorganize the campground to define/designate 10 group campsites,
• Fire rings, picnic tables, and carsonite posts will be provided at each site to better designate each area,
• The location of these features will be entered into the park's GPS database,
• An interpretive program area will be established near the parking lot. This area will be used to organize park conducted tours of the Paw Paw Tunnel and park campfire programs. Three permanent benches, seating approximately 12 people, will be installed. Additional seating will be portable.

All the proposed work will be within the footprint of the existing campground. None of the project components will impact archeological resources. The improvements will enhance the visitor experience and use of the area.


The park's Interdisciplinary Team reviewed the project for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The project does not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. It meets categorical exclusion #C.18 – Construction of minor structures, including small improved parking lots, in previously disturbed or developed areas.

The project also meets the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, Streamlined Review Process #2 – Rehabilitation and/or minor relocation of existing trails, walks, paths, and sidewalks.


Contact Information

For further information about this project, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, at 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740.