Grassland Restoration at Petersburg National Battlefield

Contact: Eric Schreiner, 928-961-6369

Petersburg, Va. - This spring, National Park Service staff at several parks, including Petersburg National Battlefield, will launch a major project to restore vital native grassland habitats starting on May 4, 2026.

At Petersburg, staff will focus on the area around Confederate Fort Gregg in the Western Front section of the park. Visitors will notice changes in the landscape as the project moves forward. The open landscapes will also better reflect what the area looked like during the Civil War. This project will not affect either the fort's walls or ditch.

Native grasslands projects are taking place at 34 National Park Service sites from Mississippi to Maine. Grasslands provide food, shelter and breeding space for pollinators and other wildlife. These habitats used to be common, even here in the eastern U.S., but many have disappeared over time. By restoring them, the National Park Service will give native wildlife more places to thrive while making parks more enjoyable places for visitors to experience nature.

Park staff will complete the work in four steps over the next few years:

1. Prepare the site: Staff will remove unwanted and invasive plants using mechanical and chemical methods. The area may look bare for a short time.
2. Plant native grasses and wildflowers: These plants will help rebuild the natural habitat.
3. Monitor the site: Staff will observe the plants, birds and insects to track progress.
4. Maintain the grassland: Staff will keep the area a grassland and prevent trees and shrubs from taking hold.