Congressional Subcommittee Holds Hearing On John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park

The U.S. House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a hearing on H.R. 1278, the John Hope Franklin National Parks bill Tuesday.

The bill was introduced by Oklahoma First District Congressman John Sullivan.

Sullivan says Tuesday's hearing is the first step in making the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park in Tulsa a part of the National Park Service.

Read H.R. 1278.

Sullivan says his bill has support in the U.S. House as well as from both the City of Tulsa and the Governor's office.

"Today's hearing is an important step forward toward securing a national park designation for the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park in Tulsa. My bill has over 30 bipartisan cosponsors, and support from the community including the City of Tulsa and the governor's office. I was proud to speak on behalf of this legislation today, which will help bring national significance to the park that has done so much to bring the community together. 

We were also honored to have Dr. John Hope Franklin's son, John. W. Franklin, in attendance for this morning's hearing. I thank him for being here as we honor his father, a man whose contributions to Oklahoma and communities across the country are still resonating today."

John W. Franklin, son of Dr. John Hope Franklin, testified during the hearing and issued the following statement:

"It is important for the National Park Service to recognize what happened in Tulsa, though 90 years ago it is of national significance, and it is important in the 21st century for us to recall this very significant event of 1921. It's a part of our legacy that must not be forgotten."

The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special study of the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, to determine the feasibility of including the site as a unit of the National Park system.