(September 4, 2008)—A groundbreaking ceremony will take place at the Waco Mammoth Site Thursday morning for the construction of a new visitor’s center.

Congressman Chet Edwards will speak at 10am; Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy and City Manager Larry Groth will also be on hand at the ceremony.

In 2002, Edwards authored legislation which later became a law that directed the National Park Service to determine the feasibility of establishing a national park at the Waco Mammoth Site.

In 2005, Edwards secured $200 thousand for preservation efforts at the Waco Mammoth Site and an additional $200 thousand for the Baylor Mayborn Museum's Mammoth Exhibit.

In 2006 and 2007, Edwards generated a letter from the Texas congressional delegation to Interior Department recommending the Waco Mammoth site for inclusion in National Park System.

The National Park Service will hold a public meeting Thursday evening to discuss a congressional report on the Waco Mammoth Site.

The meeting will take place at the Mayborn Museum Complex in the SBC Theater at 1300 S. University Parks Drive on Baylor Campus from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

The two hour meeting will include a public discussion as well as comments over the report that outlines the findings of a special resource study of the Waco Mammoth Site.

Congress specifically requested for the study to be conducted to evaluate the site's potential for inclusion as a new unit of the National Park System.

The study will be available for public review until Sept. 20.

For information, visit www.WacoMammoth.org or call the Waco Parks and Recreation office at 254-750-5980.