SHORT TAKES : Actress’ Ranch May Be Park

A ranch owned by actress Greer Garson would become a national park under a bill introduced in Congress by three New Mexico lawmakers.

Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Pete V. Domenici and Rep. Bill Richardson said the bill introduced Thursday would allow the National Park Service to preserve and interpret the history of the entire Pecos area near Las Vegas, N.M.

The planned Pecos National Historical Park would stand on what is now the 5,865-acre Forked Lightning Ranch owned by Garson. It would include the 25-year-old Pecos National Monument, which includes a village dating from the Pecos Pueblo Indians of 1450, the lawmakers said.

Negotiations were under way for the land, which may be purchased by a third party and then donated to the federal government, he said. Under the legislation, land may be bought, exchanged or donated.