FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

Leesa Brandon - Executive Director and NC Coordinator
Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc.
Asheville, NC
828.271.4779, x 224

Penny Lloyd - VA Coordinator
Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc.
Roanoke, VA
540.772.2104

Roanoke, VA (October 10, 2008) – As the Blue Ridge Parkway prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary, stewardship of the 469-mile roadway is a priority according to state officials and Parkway personnel.

Parkway supporters, along with Virginia and North Carolina state representatives, gathered at Milepost 115 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Roanoke to unveil the logo and plans for the 2010 celebration and announce initial efforts underway for the celebration. Among them was Virginia Governor and keynote speaker Tim Kaine. “The Blue Ridge Parkway is the quintessential American travel experience and a prime example of sustainable tourism,” said Governor Kaine.  “Virginia is proud to celebrate 75 years of conservation, education, and outdoor recreation that the Parkway offers to visitors and our residents.”

The vision for the anniversary is to engage local communities and the nation in efforts to sustain a healthy Blue Ridge Parkway for future generations by celebrating 75 years of Parkway history, Appalachian culture, and spectacular scenic views.

Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc. has been organized and tasked with coordinating an anniversary that celebrates the legacy of this national treasure, addresses issues regarding the fragility of the resource, and lays the groundwork for the Parkway’s role in the region and nation as an economic force for generations to come. Organizers offered a menu of ideas and suggestions for planning over the next 15 months leading up to the 2010 anniversary year.

The Parkway and its neighboring communities are inherently tied together by common boundaries, economics, and shared history as evidenced by 20 million annual visitors and $2.3 billion economic impact in North Carolina and Virginia. Partnerships with adjacent communities are essential for the long-term success of all and will be a feature of the anniversary activities. “The symbiotic relationship between the Parkway and gateway communities is strong and will become stronger through the 75th anniversary. Many people see local communities as a gateway to the Parkway,” Parkway Superintendent Phil Francis stated. “We often think of the Parkway as a gateway to unique local communities and authentic experiences.”

As the most visited unit of all 391 units in the National Park Service, the Parkway offers unparalleled access to cultural, recreational, and natural history experiences, as well as extraordinary biodiversity environments seen in some of the rarest ecosystems in the temperate world. Parkway visitors and neighbors have a unique opportunity and a special and serious responsibility to protect and safeguard this national treasure for themselves and future generations, according to Parkway officials. To aid in the effort, Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc. will prepare and make available a community resource kit offering tools and strategies for getting involved in the anniversary, as well as the long-term protection and conservation of the Parkway.

Dan Brown, president of Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc. and retired parkway superintendent, issued a challenge to all to “get involved, consider what the Parkway means to your community, organization, or business and support the work of Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc. as we work to protect land and celebrate this anniversary.”

For more information about the upcoming anniversary and planning process, contact a BRP 75 office. In North Carolina, contact Leesa Brandon by e-mail or at 828.271.4779 x 224. In Virginia, contact Penny Lloyd by e-mail or at 540.772.2104.