Parkway receives

largest budget increase
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

The Blue Ridge Parkway welcomes its largest budget increase in years with approval of a $1.9 million boost in the federal budget.

Phil Francis, parkway superintendent, said, “It’s the biggest increase in the national park budget I’ve seen, and I’ve been with the park service 35 years. There are obviously a lot of different opinions on how to spend tax dollars, but we’re just delighted we were deemed a priority.”

For years, park service officials had been complaining about languishing budgets and the decline in maintenance that affected visitor experience.

The boost, while expected, was still not a done deal until the budget was adopted, and Francis acknowledged that a big chunk of federal highway dollars would also help offset years of neglect.

The parkway will get $30 million in federal transportation funds, which Francis said would address “a huge backlog in road maintenance” for the roadway, which extends 469 miles from western North Carolina into central Virginia. But the most immediate benefit will be in the improved maintenance for both grounds and structures.

Francis said the increase would fund 47 seasonal jobs, 30 of them for maintenance positions.

“That’s really where the need is,” Francis said. “We’ve lost about 58 permanent jobs in the last six years. This will allow us to hire seasonal employees and help significantly in making strides and maintain services at a level our visitors expect.”

Last year’s increase of $400,000 basically covered cost-of-living increases for existing positions, Francis said.

This year, the parkway budget is nearly $16 million.

“This will help keep the national parks secure for future generations,” Francis said.

“That’s what we’re here for, to protect these special places.”

The latest big news for the parkway is the opening of the Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center at milepost 384 on the parkway on Dec. 17. The center, located near Fletcher, N.C., was the first major initiative under the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.

The center’s exhibits highlight the natural and cultural diversity, economic traditions and recreational opportunities found in western North Carolina and along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Center also houses a 70-seat theater, information and orientation services and book sales area. The theater features “The Blue Ridge Parkway-America’s Favorite Journey,” a 24-minute film shown hourly.

A variety of listening stations and interactive exhibits are available as well, and the center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. It will be closed for New Year’s Day.

A grand opening ceremony will be held in the spring.

Francis welcomed the addition of the center and a renewed support for the park service mission.

“The national parks have over 400 million visitors a year,” he said.

“The improvements give us a chance to get the parkway ready for the 75th anniversary celebration coming in 2010.”

In addition to federal funding, the parkway is also supported by private and non-profit ventures, such as the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway.