1825

The Choctaw Academy site in Scott County is now under consideration for National Historic Landmark designation by the National Park Service — a rare recognition reserved for places of exceptional importance to American history. Yet despite this extraordinary opportunity, current roadway plans threaten the site’s historic landscape, stone walls, and viewshed in favor of a design driven largely by access to “free” federal funding. An alternative alignment exists that better preserves this nationally significant resource, but local officials have increasingly attempted to distance themselves from responsibility by claiming the project belongs solely to state and federal agencies. That is unacceptable. Major projects affecting historic resources do not move forward without local advocacy and support. Our community leaders should be championing preservation, not disclaiming accountability. Scott County has an opportunity to protect both public safety and one of Kentucky’s most important historic landscapes — but only if citizens demand it.