Stone Mountain other states to remove the Confederate battle flag and statues of Confederate leaders from public areas. A proposal was made to remove the Confederate carving from Stone Mountain Park. However, according to Georgia state law, no one is allowed to alter the figures carved upon the stone face. Any changes within the state park would require approval by the state legislature. On October 11, 2015, "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution" reported the park is considering a proposal of a permanent "Freedom Bell" honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and the line "Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia" as part of King's
Bear Mountain State Park park. In 2010, sections of the AT within the park were rebuilt by the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference, with stone steps to handle the 500,000 annual hikers. The Manhattan skyline can be seen from the top of Bear Mountain from about away. Bear Mountain also regularly hosts cross country running events during the fall season. High school cross country teams compete on the course, which mostly consists of paved walkways. Bear Mountain is the location for the County's Championship race as well as the Rockland County Alumni Race, run every year since 1983. Bear Mountain State Park