“Our parks truly are a priceless inheritance bequeathed to us by our parents and grandparents.  I firmly believe that this is an inheritance that we cannot simply pass down to the next generation as we received it.  Rather we must seek to improve our parks, to make them even more inspiring and memorable places to visit.  We must help local communities welcome the millions of people who flock to the parks with attractive, appropriate, environmentally sound development.  We’ve been beneficiaries of the foresight of those who came before us.  We must be the benefactors to those who come after us.”
- Former Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne

Recapping the Community Meetings

The 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway is an opportunity to celebrate the Parkway’s history, Appalachian culture, and spectacular scenic views. It’s a chance to invigorate a strategic, regional approach to community and economic development along the Parkway while strengthening support for its stewardship. Yet communities along the corridor have only just begun to tap into the community and economic development opportunities the Parkway represents.

During the winter of 2009, Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc., in partnership with the the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, and the Appalachian Regional Commission, hosted a series of conversations throughout the region involving local stakeholders and community representatives. These sessions offered a chance to develop ideas and strategies across the region. Community leaders shared their existing initiatives with each other and, collectively, they developed new ideas to strengthen connections between communities and improve communication between the Parkway and the surrounding towns, counties, and cities.

The resulting document, The Parkway at 75: Collaborative Strategies for Blue Ridge Parkway Communities, culled from conversations at all four meetings, is just one element in a growing tool kit that will offer resources for getting involved in the Anniversary, as well as for strengthening long-term partnerships for the protection and conservation of the Parkway and improving the quality of life in the communities that surround it. Get the full report here.

Appalachian Regional Commission Announces Grants for Parkway Communities

In September 2009, the Appalachian Regional Commission announced grants to Blue Ridge Parkway communities as part of its Gems of Appalachia Initiative to enhance Appalachia’s gateways to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Learn about the winners here.