|
Heritage Development Plan unveiled
By Rose Hooper
Including his own personal favorite – the Drovers Turnpike Trail – Mark Jones, chairman of the Jackson County Travel and Tourism Authority, unveiled the areas highlighted in the county’s new Heritage Development Plan.
His PowerPoint presentation served as a focal point for the Aug. 12 celebration hosted by the Jackson County Heritage Development Council, Smoky Mountain Host and the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.
Jackson County officials established the council in February and asked the group to create a comprehensive heritage development plan.
The new “Welcome to Jackson County” signs, designed by Chamber of Commerce Director Julie Spiro, above, “should be popping up around eight key entrances in a few short weeks,” she said. The sign, as well as the county’s heritage development plan, were unveiled Aug. 12 during a celebration at the Justice Center. –Herald photo by Rose Hooper
Jones said that the projects identified will help chart the course for a strong future for the cultural, natural and historic resources and help the county realize its potential as a National Heritage Area Designation.
Rep. Charles Taylor secured the National Heritage Area designation for Western North Carolina and $1 million for 10 projects in each of the 25 counties of the area.
The Drovers Turnpike Trail, a section of which is located near High Hampton Inn, was a trail used in the early 1800s to move goods to larger markets in South Carolina.
Jones said the trail will link to counties in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and the South Carolina Heritage Corridor, he said.
Heritage development protects and interprets natural, cultural and historic resources as an economic development tool. The tool helps build public infrastructure to foster new public and private investment in the community, according to Jones.
“Another benefit is to safeguard community character,” he said.
Also in the plan is an Appalachian Homestead Farm on Kirby Knob near Glenville that will serve as a heritage and cultural center, as well as a learning camp for young people.
Part of the plan includes an inventory of musicians, artists, historians, dancers and story tellers, in addition to an inventory of historical persons, sites and signs.
Roberta Crawford, Jackson County commissioner and heritage council member, said she was pleased with the designations, including the restoration of the courthouse as a county heritage museum.
“To me, heritage means a sense of place and a recognition of all people who have come before me,” said Craw–ford, stressing the importance of honoring and preserving that heritage.
Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver said that the most valuable resources in the county “are our people . . . and we are going to need a lot of people to volunteer their talents” to prioritize projects and put the development plan in action.
Following last week’s community presentation, Jackson County’s plan will be presented at a regional forum and synthesized into a sub-regional plan to be completed by June 2005.
|
