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Blue
Ridge Parkway Prepares for 2017 Visitor Season
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Asheville,
NC – April 2017 / Newsmaker Alert / As spring begins, staff along the
Blue
Ridge Parkway are preparing campgrounds for visitors, planning engaging
family programs, and readying other facilities for the millions of visitors
that enjoy the Parkway each year. This historic, 469-mile route, and National
Park Service site, is one of the largest designed landscapes in the country,
providing visitors with a wide variety of opportunities to make meaningful
connections to the nature, history, and culture of the southern Appalachian
mountain region.
|
 Visitors
to Parkway campgrounds need to be aware of two changes for the upcoming
season. Beginning May 1, 2017, only heat-treated firewood that is bundled
and certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or
a state department of agriculture may be brought onto the Parkway. Campers
may also collect dead and down wood found in the immediate vicinity of
campgrounds and picnic areas.
Additionally,
the overnight camping fee on the Parkway will be $20.00. “We are committed
to keeping the Parkway camping opportunities affordable and providing visitors
with the best possible experience,” said Parkway Superintendent Mark Woods.
“The funds generated from camping fees are used to maintain and improve
existing campground infrastructure such as picnic tables, tent pads, and
visitor facilities.”
The
first step in bringing business back to the historic Bluffs operations
at Doughton Park, near Milepost 241, will also occur with the reopening
of the camp store (previously a gas station) at that site later in May.
Parkway
visitors are always reminded to take time to carefully plan their visit.
Considering its unique design, the Parkway drive is different than most
and this can mean taking extra care to ensure a safe visit. Information
is available to help plan a memorable and safe Parkway experience on the
park’s website at www.nps.gov/blri,
the real time road map site at www.nps.gov/maps/blri/road-closures,
in any Parkway visitor center, and by following Parkway social media sites
with the handle @BlueRidgeNPS.
Schedule
of opening dates and times can be found here https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/hours.htm.
About
the National Park Service
More
than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national
parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local
history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at
www.NPS.gov,
on Facebook Facebook.com/nationalparkservice,
Twitter Twitter.com/natlparkservice,
and YouTube YouTube.com/nationalparkservice.
Contacts:
Leesa
Brandon (NPS)
828-348-3420
Caitlin
Worth (NPS)
828-348-3406 |
