Partners

Shared Responsibility

The protection of the parkway and surrounding region is an immense task, with much at stake. Decades of eroding budgets have reduced staffing and made it more and more difficult to maintain the parkway's aging and considerable infrastructure, to monitor and preserve its many natural and cultural resources, and to provide educational services for visitors.

The trend is undeniably clear: fewer staff members must confront mounting threats and try to carry out a dual mission of preserving the parkway and serving the visiting public. They cannot do it alone. Their success will depend on mobilizing an army of concerned citizens.

The parkway of tomorrow will be defined by the extent to which people today are willing to speak out on behalf of the parkway and to invest in its future. Fortunately, many non-profit partner groups now work hand-in-hand with the parkway staff. While these organizations have differing missions, they share an overarching goal: to preserve and enhance the national treasure that is the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation meets a wide variety of parkway needs every day. They collaborate closely with the park and a community of stewards to ensure maximum flexibility and impact of each donor dollar whether donor interests are in education, environmental and resource protection, visitor facilities, or cultural heritage. www.brpfoundation.org

 

Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership connects cultural, heritage, and tourism organizations in the North Carolina mountains and foothills to foster heritage preservation, promote the region to visitors, and achieve sustainable economic development. www.blueridgeheritage.com

 

America's National Parks Stores operates bookstores at parkway visitor centers. Bookstore proceeds support numerous education and research programs on the parkway. Shop at non-profit stores in parkway visitor centers to enjoy your visit more, support visitor center staffing, and generate cash donations to the parkway. https://shop.americasnationalparks.org/store/

 

The Carolina Mountain Club is an organization of Hikers and Trail Maintainers. The CMC Hikes and Maintain trails on the Parkway and trails that cross the Parkway from the Smokies to the Black Mountain Campground. carolinamountainclub.org

Conservation Trust for North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy Provide funds to preserve key tracts of land along the Parkway and seek private landowner support. www.ctnc.org and www.blueridgelandconservancy.org