The Parkway Sentinel - Volume 2, Issue 4 - May 2006

Thu May 18 13:22:27 EDT 2006

The Parkway Sentinel - News from the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway  
        FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Newsletter 
     

         Volume 2, Issue 4 
     May 2006 
     

                    This Month's Features-    
                    Parkway Message   
                    2006 Photo Contest   
                     Trails Forever Program   
                    Volunteers In Parks   
                    Our Online Store   
           Greetings!
            Please forward this e-newsletter to anyone you feel would be interested! If this message was forwarded to you by a friend, you can receive your own subscription by visiting our web site.
           

      Parkway Message 
      The horizon will be the boundary... (all quotes from NPS-owned 1958 interview with Stan Abbott)

      Unfold a map of the Blue Ridge Parkway and you will quickly see its most notable feature. it is long and narrow! This shape and configuration affects management of the park and the visitors' experience as well. Entering most national parks, we leave communities or developed areas behind within a few minutes. But along the majority of the Parkway, the boundary remains close at hand, and the long, sweeping views that we enjoy from the ridgetops extend across multiple jurisdictions and communities, all the way to the horizon. These "huge panoramas that look out forever" were a guiding principle in the placement of the road and in the overall design of the Parkway.

      It is no surprise that during construction days, local residents often referred to the Parkway simply as "the Scenic" and to the overlooks as "balconies." The Parkway is indeed something of a platform or a balcony for many visitors. It is a place to climb up on and look out. into valleys and distant mountain ranges, into rural landscapes, into our neighbors' back yards, and into local communities. We look all the way to the horizon and far beyond the physical boundaries of the park. This notion of the horizon being the park boundary created a sense of wilderness in the designers' minds. something they called "awayness." In essence, it provided "freedom from the impression of a boundary line."

      This concept also creates unique challenges today for those who manage this most-visited of all National Park Service areas. The Parkway is intimately linked to the region and to regional issues of protection, management, and tourism in ways that most parks are not. Every decision along the Parkway corridor, whether in one of the twenty nine counties or beyond, has an effect on the visitors' experience. In a similar way, every decision made by Parkway management is done with the understanding that this can affect the neighboring communities. Decades ago, former Superintendent Granville Liles noted that the Parkway's "relationship to the region through which it passes" is perhaps the "most critical factor" in management.

      The Parkway looks simple on a map of Virginia or North Carolina. a long, thin, blue line meandering down the mountains between Shenandoah and the Smokies. It isn't hard to locate and from that perspective, it looks relatively simple. But keeping the magnificent views to the horizon as they were intended in the early days, is a challenge that will continue for years to come. 

      Author: Peter Givens, Interpretive Specialist, Blue Ridge Parkway NPS

      (Next: Wayside parks will broaden the experience and become "gems in the necklace.")  

      2006 Photo Contest
      FRIENDS and the Blue Ridge Parkway are sponsoring an Amateur Photo Contest! We all love the Blue Ridge Parkway - what a fun way for youth and adults to get involved this summer with the Parkway! Forward this email to your friends to get involved!

      I would like to donate to help save parkway views. 

       
      Trails Forever Program
      National Trail Day is Saturday, June 3rd!

       
      This is exciting, and a way to spread word about the Blue Ridge Parkway trails.

      The slogan for National Trail Day 2006 is "Experience Your Outdoors"! This slogan speaks to all Americans and encourages them to get outside, get active, and experience the wonders of trails in their own communities and throughout the country. Become involved and make a difference to help our Blue Ridge Parkway Trails! The Parkway has over 100 trails and over 350 miles of trails!

      "Experience Your Outdoors" is a personal message to all individuals and includes all varieties of recreational uses. National Trail Day events: 

        a.. Develop awareness and understanding for one's self and relationships with others. 
        b.. Encourage responsibility and stewardship. 
        c.. Build a sense of community. 
        d.. Develop consciousness and respect for the environment. 
        e.. Increase the desire for recreation. 
        f.. Enhance quality of life. 
        g.. Provide exercise, relaxation, and enjoyment. 
      The Carolina Mountain Club has registered for this event. FRIENDS Fishers Peak Chapter has also registered for this event (Fishers Peak Chapter volunteers will be meeting at 9:00 AM at the Trail Head Parking lot near the Blue Ridge Music Center - milepost 213).

      To find out more information about the National Trail Days, go to: National Trails Day Page

      To obtain a list of the Blue Ridge Parkway trails that are available for adoption, contact Linda_Kassar at FriendsBRP.org. FRIENDS requires a 3 to 5 year commitment - before you apply to adopt a trail we encourage you to walk the trail you are interested in - then apply or call FRIENDS to request an application. The Blue Ridge Parkway and FRIENDS need YOU!

      I would like to donate to help preserve parkway trails. 

       
      Volunteers In Parks
      Volunteer Needs:

      URGENT NEED: Assistance staffing the Visitor Center desk at Blue Ridge Music Center. Especially need someone Saturday mornings, 8:30-12:30.

      Qualifications and Basic Skills:

        a.. Must enjoy helping the public and be able to represent the National Park Service and the Blue Ridge Parkway in a professional and friendly manner. 
        b.. Be able to follow all security and emergency procedures, including fire alarms, reporting of accidents/injuries, etc. 
        c.. Be able to direct visitors using the Parkway strip map and assist them with services using the map and Directory. 
        d.. Direct visitors to services and activities. 
        e.. Be able to make Eastern National cash and credit card sales. 
        f.. Handle phone inquiries. 
        g.. Morning shift must open gates, disable alarms, unlock Visitor Center, set up change fund and open by 9 am. 
        h.. Late shift must lock and secure building after 5pm, close out cash and credit sales and prepare a daily shift report, set alarms and lock main gate. 
      For more information: Blue Ridge Parkway News Release April 24, 2006

      Contact:

        Mindy DeCesar - District Interpretive Supervisor, Plateau District 
        1670 Blue Ridge Parkway 
        Floyd, VA 24091 
        Ph: 540-745-9680 Fax: 540-745-9665 
        Email:Mindy_DeCesar at nps.gov 

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      Adopt-A-Trail Groups' Trail Dates:
      FRIENDS' Fisher's Peak Chapter

      All dates are Saturdays - Beginning at 8:00 AM: May 20, June 3, June 17, July 8, July 22, August 5, August 19, September 9, and September 23

      Volunteers must sign up in advance by contacting: Dottie Bramley Email:pdbramley at valink.com Telephone: (276) 236-7658 Volunteers bring a sack lunch, if you would like to eat together after the trail work.

      I would like to donate to help the Volunteers in Parks. 

       
      Our Online Store
       FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway Cap - (one size fits all)(view now) 
      Shade your eyes while you show your support for the Blue Ridge Parkway. The FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway logo is embroidered on this beautiful hat. Adjustable - one size fits all.Visit Store 

       
      Donate or HELP support FRIENDS
      Help Us Preserve the Legacy

      FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway offers young and old, together, the opportunity to connect with friends and family to save the Blue Ridge Parkway for their continuing enjoyment - and for future generations.

      The Blue Ridge Parkway connects the Shenandoah National Park with the Smoky Mountains National Park. It is America's most scenic drive encompassing 469 miles transversing 29 counties in Virginia and North Carolina. Over 22 million people touch its borders annually - making it America's most frequented park treasure!

      By joining Preserving the Legacy you will be supporting projects that will protect this extraordinary Parkway and adjacent land and views for yourselves and for future generations. FRIENDS is an official Park Service partner. Please join us by choosing one of our deserving Programs today!

      Donation Page

      If you have any questions, please contact us 
         
        
      Copyright © 2006 FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway 

      We sent you this email because you requested information on Preserving the Parkway. If you'd rather not receive email updates from FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can delete your name from our email list by clicking here.
     
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