A public meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 1 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Explore Park Visitor Center Auditorium (Milepost 115.1) concerning the future of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The meeting is an opportunity for the public to review and comment on an Environmental Assessment, which may impact the Roanoke Valley Trail System.

According to the National Park Service website, the intent of the Environmental Assessment project is to determine whether development of an integrated trail system that would provide critical linkages between the Roanoke Valley Greenways trail network and the Parkway is appropriate after consideration of project impacts.

The meeting isn’t the only opportunity the public will have to comment on the document. The Environmental Assessment plan is available for review on the National Park Service website: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=10392. The website also provides a link where citizens can comment online. Written comments may be mailed to:
Blue Ridge Parkway
Attn: Suzette Moiling, Environmental Protection Specialist
199 Hemphill Knob Road
Asheville, NC 28803

Roanoke County leaders will submit comments on the plan. Staff is currently preparing the information. The Parkway will accept comments on the document through September 12, 2011

Submitted by Teresa Hamilton Hall