Did You Know?
There are over 14,000 signs on the Parkway, but no billboards! Photo by Vicki Dameron
View from summit of Sharp Top, Peaks of OtterPhoto by Bruce Henderson
Dates
1 p.m. on Thurs, Oct 14 to noon on Sat, Oct 16
Conference times vary
Cost
$195 per person
Contact
Dr. Bob Smith
Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources
540.231.7679
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Location
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The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue, NW
Roanoke, VA 24016
Imagining the Blue Ridge Parkway for the 21st Century: Sustaining Communities, Environments, and Economies
Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment in cooperation with Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc. is hosting “Imagining the Blue Ridge Parkway for the 21st Century: Sustaining Communities, Environments, and Economies.” This is the second in a two-part conversation about the past and future of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the first part held in April at Appalachian State University. The historic Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center in Roanoke, Virginia, will be the host hotel for this October 14-16, 2010 symposium, which will be the leading program on linear parkway planning held in this region and will include some of the foremost authorities to address issues that directly impact communities along the Parkway’s 469-mile route. The program is designed to assist community leaders, businesses, economic development authorities, tourism offices, Parkway officials, and supporters of the Parkway in working together for a sustainable future for the Parkway.
This conference will address such important issues as: What is the Blue Ridge Parkway’s impact on your community? Are you capitalizing on that potential? Is there more that you can do to keep the Parkway’s scenic views scenic, foster economic development and tourism initiatives, and be a good steward to this important natural resource? The organization tasked with planning and carrying out the 75th Anniversary initiatives invites you to join in the discussion of how this national treasure can impact your community’s future, as well as how various groups and individuals can partner with the Parkway to ensure its future and to leave a legacy for generations to come.
Conference Program (PDF)
Program
NOTE: Registration is open from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Thursday, October 14
Opening Session at 1:00 p.m.
Kick-off Keynote Address
Exploring America
Peter Jenkins, Author of A Walk Across America Sponsored by Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
Sustainability’s Three-Legged Stool
- Social Implications — Ricky Cox
- Environmental Implications — Rupert Cutler
- Economic Implications — David Gantt
Reception/Dinner on Own
Friday, October 15
Creation, Conservation, and Community Assets
- Parkway Purpose, Idea, and Creation — Carlton Abbott
- Corridor Conservation and the Community’s Role — Gary Johnson
- Gateway Tourism — Steve Galyean
- Cultural Assets in Your Community — Todd Christensen
- Environmental Tourism: The Next Generation — Woody Crenshaw
Lunch with Keynote Address
From a Log House to Rushmore: A 35-Year Journey
Gerard Baker — Assistant Director for American Indian Relations, National Park Service, and featured in Ken Burns’s film series The National Parks: America’s Best Idea
Community Challenges and Successes
- What Does Partnership Look Like? — Bill Carson
- Last Chance Landscape Revisited — Clay Goodman & Janet Scheid
- Developing a Blue Ridge Cultural and Education Center — Steve Swartz
Opportunities
- Roadside Advertising in a Digital Age — John McGee
- Cherokee Heritage Trails — Barbara Duncan
- Virginia Green & the Blue Ridge Parkway — Tom Griffin
- The National Park Service and the Needs of the 21st Century Visitor — Monika Mayr
Dinner with Keynote Address
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
Richard Louv, Author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder; co-founder and chairman Children & Nature Network. Sponsored by Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Note: Non-conference participants can attend the Friday evening dinner and keynote address. Cost is $50 per person. Please pre-register at www.cpe.vt.edu/reg/brp21.
Saturday, October 16
New Perspectives
- Green Infrastructure Planning for Sustainability and Resiliency — Linda Giltz
- Neighbors Guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway — David Hill
- The Blue Ridge Parkway at 75: Successful Social and Economic Experiment — Joe Elton
Shared Responsibility:
- A conversation with the audience, Parkway staff, and Parkway Partners about maintaining the Anniversary’s momentum
Conference Wrap-up/Adjournment at noon
General Registration
The cost for this symposium is $195, which includes meals (one dinner on your own), breaks, and program materials. All conference activity takes place at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.
To register, visit www.cpe.vt.edu/reg/brp21. Conference registration deadline is October 10, 2010.
For more information, contact:
Bob Smith
Associate Dean for Engagement
Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources
540.231.7679
Penny Lloyd
Virginia Coordinator, Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc.
c/o Roanoke County Public Information Office
540.772.2104
Symposium Sponsors
Norfolk Southern Foundation
Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
County of Roanoke
Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment
