16 U.S.C. § 410ffff–2: Establishment of Weir…

Summary

Creates Weir Farm National Historical Park in Connecticut. The park includes four specific parcels: the roughly 2-acre core with the Weir house, studio, and barn; about 60 acres owned by the State of Connecticut; an about 2-acre parcel in Wilton (lot 18 on a map dated October 27, 1978, on file with the Wilton town clerk); and about 0.9 acre on Tall Oaks Road in Wilton. The park boundary is shown on a map dated June 1994 that is on file with the National Park Service. The Secretary may buy up to 15 more acres in Fairfield County for visitor and administrative use. Land bought becomes part of the park and is managed as park land. New development must be kept small so the area stays similar to the natural parklands. The Secretary may buy already developed property and is not required to restore it. Before building, the Secretary must make agreements with the local government that has authority under state law to plan parking and facilities and to manage bus traffic, keeping large buses parked offsite.

Title 16, §410ffff–2

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

There is established, as a unit of the National Park System, the Weir Farm National Historical Park in the State of Connecticut.

(b)Description

The historical park shall consist of

(1)

(2)the approximately 60 acres and improvements thereon owned by the State of Connecticut;

(3)the approximately 2-acre parcel of land situated in the town of Wilton, Connecticut, designated as lot 18 on a map entitled “Revised Map of Section I, Thunder Lake at Wilton, Connecticut, Scale l’=100’, October 27, 1978, Ryan and Faulds Land Surveyors, Wilton, Connecticut”, that is on file in the office of the town clerk of the town of Wilton, and therein numbered 3673; and

(4)the approximately 0.9-acre western portion of a parcel of land situated in the town of Wilton, Connecticut, designated as Tall Oaks Road on the map referred to in paragraph (3).

(c)General depiction

The parcels referred to in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (b) are all as generally depicted on a map entitled “Boundary Map, Weir Farm National Historic Site, Fairfield County Connecticut”, dated June 1994. Such map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.

(d)Acquisition of land for visitor and administrative facilities; limitations

(1)Acquisition

(A)In general

To preserve and maintain the historic setting and character of the historical park, the Secretary may acquire not more than 15 additional acres for the development of visitor and administrative facilities for the historical park.

(B)Proximity

The property acquired under this subsection shall be within Fairfield County.

(C)Management

The acquired property shall be included within the boundary of the historical park and shall be managed and maintained as part of the historical park.

(2)Development

(A)Maintaining natural character

The Secretary shall keep development of the property acquired under paragraph (1) to a minimum so that the character of the acquired property will be similar to the natural and undeveloped landscape of the property described in subsection (b).

(B)Treatment of previously developed property

Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall either prevent the Secretary from acquiring property under paragraph (1) that, prior to the Secretary’s acquisition, was developed in a manner inconsistent with subparagraph (A), or require the Secretary to remediate such previously developed property to reflect the natural character described in subparagraph (A).

(3)Agreements

Prior to and as a prerequisite to any development of visitor and administrative facilities on the property acquired under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall enter into one or more agreements with the local governmental entity that, in accordance with applicable State law, has jurisdiction over any property acquired under paragraph (1)(A) for the purposes of— (A)

(B)managing bus traffic to the historical park and limiting parking for large tour buses to an offsite location.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–305, § 2(b)(2)(A), substituted “Historical Park” for “Historic Site” in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–305, § 2(b)(2)(B), substituted “Historical Park” for “Historic Site”. Subsecs. (b), (d). Pub. L. 116–305, § 2(b)(2)(C), substituted “historical park” for “historic site” wherever appearing. 2009—Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 111–11, § 7102(1), substituted “within Fairfield County.” for “contiguous to or in close proximity to the property described in subsection (b).” Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 111–11, § 7102(2), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary shall keep development of the property acquired under paragraph (1) to a minimum so that the character of the acquired property will be similar to the natural and undeveloped landscape of the property described in subsection (b).” Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 111–11, § 7102(3), in introductory provisions, substituted “the local governmental entity that, in accordance with applicable State law, has jurisdiction over any property acquired under paragraph (1)(A)” for “the appropriate zoning authority of the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and the town of Wilton, Connecticut,”. 1998—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–363 added subsec. (d). 1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–449, § 203(a)(2), struck out concluding provisions which read as follows: “both as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘Land Ownership Map, Weir Farm Historic Site’, Figure 5, dated October 1989, as contained in the National Park Service Weir Farm Suitability/Feasibility Study, February, 1990. Such map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.” Subsec. (b)(3), (4). Pub. L. 103–449, § 203(a)(1), (3), added pars. (3) and (4). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–449, § 203(b), added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Purpose Pub. L. 103–449, title II, § 202, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4756, provided that: “The purpose of this title [see

Short Title

of 1994 Amendment note set out under section 410ffff of this title] is to preserve the last remainingundeveloped parcels of the historic Weir Farm that remain in private ownership by including the parcels within the boundary of the Weir Farm National Historic Site.”

§410ffff–2 Establishment of Weir Farm National Historical Park