Viewshed Restoration Program
SAVE the Blue Ridge Parkway Views!
Saving the Parkway Views means getting involved ...
The Saving Parkway Views, Viewshed Restoration Program is the signature program of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. FRIENDS is an official Blue Ridge Parkway partner organization. FRIENDS is the only organization authorized by the Park Service to restore Park Views through this program of work.
FRIENDS works directly with the Blue Ridge Parkway and communities along the Parkway corridor to protect and restore the Parkway views.
Viewsheds include the views "360 degrees as far as the eye can see from any place you may be on the Parkway." A Parkway viewshed extends much farther than the Parkway's land. Your Parkway experience is greatly affected by the highly valued Blue Ridge Parkway scenery. Unfortunately, a greater number of viewsheds is being spoiled by the presence of land development projects. If the Parkway views are not preserved -- visitors have little reason to visit the Parkway.
The goal of the Viewshed Restoration Program is to build natural ecological barriers of trees to buffer or block the view of developed land from the Parkway. The natural ecological barriers are actually "well-planned landscape designs" provided by landscape architects such as David Hill with Hill Studio, Roanoke,Virginia. The plans are carefully orchestrated to reflect the original design of the Parkway. In addition, the plans are approved by the Parkway staff to ensure view integrity.
FRIENDS desires to foster a positive working relation with developers to ensure a win-win solution for preserving and protecting the Parkway experience and encouraging environmentally conscious development. Developers are encouraged to contact FRIENDS in their early planning stages -- staff@friendsbrp.org. FRIENDS wishes to recognize developers whose projects reflect "Parkway Neighbor of Excellence" standards.
Through the support of FRIENDS members and corporate members, FRIENDS sponsors a series of tree-plantings -- implementing the approved Parkway Landscape Plans at a site determined by the Parkway staff, in cooperation with local communities, to restore viewsheds along the Parkway. These are cooperative environmental efforts uniting community involvement, education, businesses, students and children.
The program is intended to protect the Parkway viewsheds by building natural ecological barriers of trees and shrubs adjacent to developed land. The trees range in height from 6 - 15 feet to establish a mature planting. All trees are based upon a National Park Service approved landscape plan. Native deciduous and fir tree saplings are planted in a free-form manner. The deciduous trees are planted on the Parkway side to ensure easy viewing of their autumn colors.
FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway has completed viewshed projects at MP 106.9, MP 155, MP 288, 125.5 and MP 221.
FRIENDS' last major project was the "Last Chance Landscape." In the spring of 2008, FRIENDS planted seedlings at the N&W Railroad Overlook, milepost 106.9 and in Asheville at milepost 383.4. The planting at milepost 383.4 was the first ever planting in Asheville, N.C.
FRIENDS needs volunteers to serve on a Community-Based Steering Committee in Roanoke, VA; Blowing Rock, NC and Asheville, NC. The steering committee's purpose is to recruit volunteers for viewshed work and other Parkway projects. Email staff@friendsbrp.org to request a FRIENDS Steering Committee application. Members of the Steering Committees must be current members of FRIENDS.
Please join FRIENDS or send your donation to Save the Blue Ridge Parkway Views:
FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Inc
P.O. Box 20986
Roanoke, VA 24018
