The NPS has proposed changes open for public comment until February 17th. They impact organized races but more importantly the operating hours. It would change them to be sunrise to sunset like most other parks.
Currently it is:
April 1 - October 31: The park is open daily from 6 am - 10 pm
November 1 - March 31: The park is open daily from 6 am - 7pm
The changes would impact the park grounds & roads. Stopping along what are considered "commuter roads" such as the Wheatfield Road, which is open 24hrs and is a normal road would be prohibited. Wheatfield Road runs from the back side of Little Round Top at Taneytown Road. Passes the Wheatfield & the Peach Orchard and crosses the Emmitsburg Road where it becomes Millerstown Road and goes right past Confederate Ave. where the Longstreet Tower is and the Mississippi Monument before heading out of town. During the hours the park is closed, no stopping would be allowed along roads such as this.
The loss of useable hours in which people can be in the park under this change would impact summer tourist season the most. Plus side I guess is it sends people back into town to spend their time & money at the businesses there.
Having been at Antietam often, which has always been a sunrise to sunset park, the rule of thumb we were told there years ago is they give folks 20 minutes after sunset's official time to be out. They flush people out & close the gates during this time.
People who like to take photos of sunrises, I am not sure if the 20 minute rule would apply to openings, so that could greatly impact folks who do that.
You can read the proposal announcement here and it provides info on how to leave comments:
https://www.nps.gov/gett/learn/news/sup ... m-2021.htm