November 8, 2006
(Asheville, NC) Thanks to the support of the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the first of several new donation boxes that will be placed along the Blue Ridge Parkway was unveiled this morning at the Folk Art Center near Asheville.
Dr. Greg Brown, Friends board member, said he expects the boxes to generate thousands of dollars annually that will help the Parkway with a broad range of activities, including trail construction, viewshed restoration, and volunteer support.
Brown said that Parkway budgets have "eroded significantly" and that the new boxes will "give visitors a chance to put their money where their hearts are."
Superintendent Phil Francis said that unlike many National Park areas, the Blue Ridge Parkway has no entrance fee and that private support and philanthropy are increasingly important for preserving the Parkway and providing the services that help people enjoy the park.
Francis said that Parkway visitors tend to be very loyal and return year-after-year. Many are also aware that the cost of operating the Parkway has increased much faster than funding, and they want to show their support. "This creates a ready opportunity for them to do that."
The Superintendent noted that donation boxes in other parks have generated returns of well over $100,000 annually. He said boxes will be placed at additional Parkway locations in North Carolina and Virginia next year.
The wooden cabinet for the box unveiled today was built and donated by Robert Kleber of Dream's Edge Interiors, Fletcher, N.C. The Friends group will manage collections and return revenues to the Parkway for a variety of projects and services.
For information about the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway call (800) 228-PARK or visit www.blueridgefriends.org on the Internet.
-- Courtesy National Park Service
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