Parkway Milepost

 

  

At the request of Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Phil Francis, FRIENDS was asked to publish the Parkway’s key visitor information piece, the Parkway Milepost. The National Park Service simply had no funds.

"Our budget here is at a critical condition," said Superintendent Francis to the Asheville Citizen. "We've got 58 vacant permanent jobs."

I believe you are probably aware of this dire situation from media reports. Organizations like FRIENDS and our 7,500 members have been working to help fill the gap – providing more than 68,000 volunteer hours to the park last year.

While the funds and staff have been cut, visitors continue to come and providing for them is as important as ever. The Blue Ridge Parkway is still "America's Favorite Scenic Drive” and the single most important information service for the 20 million plus visitors is the Parkway Milepost. It's the way visitors find out about historic sites, hiking trails, campgrounds, maps, restroom facilities, etc.

We recruited BLUE RIDGE COUNTRY’s award-winning writers, editors and graphic artists to make sure the 2007 edition is top notch. They agreed to donate all proceeds beyond the cost of printing and production to FRIENDS and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Parkway Milepost offers a unique opportunity for Parkway-oriented businesses and services as it offers a captive audience of potential customers eager to be directed to your business. 

We've introduced several improvements to make Parkway Milepost a quality environment for your reading pleasure:

Two distinct "seasonal" cover presentations – NEW FOR 2007.

• A New Parkway Map – Due to lack of funds, the Parkway's "strip maps" are in short supply. By including a visitor map inside Parkway Milepost, the Parkway can print fewer maps.
• Higher quality – better paper, better printing, and four colors throughout.
• Larger pressrun – 150,000 copies in a single printing.
• Lower cost – By printing a single “annual publication”, advertising costs are down 38%.
• Higher readership, more pass along readership – By having the award-winning editor of BLUE RIDGE COUNTRY at the helm, Parkway Milepost provides visitors an engaging, informational publication designed to enhance their Parkway experience.

More than 350,000 Parkway visitors will read the Milepost at the most important time – while they are in their cars looking for lodging, restaurants, attractions, and museums.

Delivery to Parkway visitor centers and accommodations along the Parkway began in mid-April.

Please join hands with the National Park Service and FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway to make sure we continue this important visitor service and help the Parkway during these difficult days.  If you want to consider advertising in the Spring 2008 edition of the Milepost, e-mail Malaina Strickland today: mStrickland@leisurepublishing.com and we'll get you reserved.

Or, call Malaina Strickland at (540) 989-0052, ext. 305