Here’s the press release from the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
Asheville, NC – The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is pleased to announce that work will soon begin on the final portion of the Graveyard Fields project on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Foundation has been raising funds for this project for the past two years and seeks the support of local businesses and individuals to raise the remaining $50,000.
This project includes multiple enhancements to the Graveyard Fields area, some of which began this fall. In November, crews from the US Forest Service completed several areas of trail enhancements to both protect the environment and provide a safer resource for all visitors. The upcoming construction will provide additional enhancements to the area by doubling the parking capacity and constructing an ADA compliant restroom facility. This comfort station is part of the Park’s efforts to ‘green the Parkway’ and is designed to reduce waste and capture rainwater for cleaning purposes. This project will also include the installation of a new trail map at trailhead and four additional interpretive signs on the Loop Trail. All projects are intended to enhance visitor safety and protect the environment while ensuring visitors have an enjoyable experience.
“The Graveyard Fields Area is a significant recreational resource on the Parkway’s southern corridor, and we are thankful to the Foundation for securing a National Scenic Byways Grant to begin the work and for cultivating the interest of both visitors and neighbors to raise the funds to complete the project,” said Mark Woods, Superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Carolyn Ward, CEO of the Foundation, adds, “We deeply appreciate all of those in our Community of Stewards – now over 100 businesses, individuals and families – who have shown their love for Graveyard Fields by contributing to these efforts. Anyone who loves this treasure is invited to help improve it by joining our Community of Stewards today.”
The Foundation was established in 1997 to serve as the primary fundraising partner for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Each year, the Foundation works closely with the National Park Service to identify worthy projects that protect the Parkway’s resources and enhance the visitor experience but that fall outside of the Parkway’s budget allocations.
To learn more about how to support this project, visit brpfoundation.org/graveyardfields or call 866-308-2773 x177.
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