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Best
Preservation of a Scenic Viewshed
The award was presented to the National Park Service,
Roanoke County, Radford & Co., the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge
Parkway, and the Western Virginia Land Trust for preserving
60 acres of scenic viewshed along the Blue Ridge Parkway for
generations to come.
In 2002, Scenic America -- Scenic Virginia's parent
organization -- designated a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway
in Roanoke County as one of its ten "Last Chance Landscapes,"
areas it deemed as the most threatened scenic landscapes in the
country.
Soon after, several local organizations answered the call
and joined forces to save the important Blue Ridge vistas.
Working with the National Parks Service, Roanoke County planning
staff mapped viewsheds, identified property owners, and
incorporated the resulting information into the County's
comprehensive plan. The FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway
established a "Last Chance" steering committee. The Western
Virginia Land Trust stepped up its effort to educate property
owners along the Blue Ridge Parkway about the value of
conservation easements.
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place with
businessman Frank Radford's generous donation of more than 60
acres of land to protect critical views from the Blue Ridge
Parkway. The result is that one of the Roanoke Valley's most
scenic Parkway views will forever be preserved.
On hand to accept the award were Gary Johnson of the Blue
Ridge Parkway/National Park Service; Janet Scheid of Roanoke
County; Frank Radford, David Radford and Tom Wilson of Radford &
Co.; and Roger Holnback of the Western Virginia Land Trust.
Susan Mills of the FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway was unable
to attend. In addition, Scenic Virginia recognized Kevin Fry,
the new President of Scenic America, the organization that
initiated this effort.
Best Implementation of
Tree-Trimming Policy
This award was given to the
Lynchburg VDOT District.
Scenic Virginia’s successful 2001 legislation led to the
development of statewide standards for the trimming of trees
along Virginia’s roadsides. It is now the responsibility of the
nine VDOT districts to implement the resulting policy approved
by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Scenic Virginia
developed this category to reward the VDOT district with the
best results.
The 2003 winner was the Lynchburg VDOT District, for serving
as the successful business model for the tree-trimming
standards, and for consistently employing tree-trimming
practices that provide safety to motorists while preserving the
aesthetics of roadside trees. The 2004 winner was again the
Lynchburg VDOT District, for consistently demonstrating how
proper tree-trimming is accomplished and for making their roads
the envy of those who live in other districts.
Accepting the award for the Lynchburg VDOT District were
District Maintenance Engineer Tim Wiles, Roadside Manager Ray
Lacey, and Bill Lewis.
Most
Creative Scenic Improvement (TIE)
Both winners
are located in southside Virginia textile mill towns that have
experienced economic hardships during the past few years, and
neither had a longstanding tradition of attention to aesthetic
issues. But that is evidently changing.
When a
locality takes care with its appearance, it announces to the
rest of the world that it is a place worth noticing. Attractive
gateways signal to visitors that they are entering a special
place, and they reinforce the civic pride that citizens feel for
their hometowns. Trees, shrubs and flowers planted along
municipal streets add beauty and a touch of green to the urban
environment.
The first award for Most Creative Scenic Improvement was
presented to the Gateway Streetscape Foundation for their
tireless work to beautify the corridors of Martinsville and
Henry County. Working with a limited budget but lots of
volunteer help, they get the job done and serve as an
inspiration to communities across the Commonwealth in the
process.
Accepting the award for the Gateway Streetscape Foundation
were its executive director, Lois Christensen, and Melinda Ward.
We would also like to acknowledge Barbara Holland, a friend of
Scenic Virginia from Martinsville who nominated the project.
The second award for Most Creative Scenic Improvement was
given to the City of Danville's Public Works Department for
their Danville Interchange Gardens (DIG) beautification program,
which they undertook to enhance local assets such as the views
of the Dan River, the beauty of the scenic byways, and the charm
of their older, historic neighborhoods.
Proceeding on the theory that "You have only one
opportunity to make a first impression,” this is Danville's way
of improving the first impression it makes on prospective
businesses, industries, and residents. For them, improving the
beauty and natural splendor of Danville has become -- and
remained -- a top priority.
Accepting the award were Danville's Director of Public
Works, Richard Drazenovich; horticulturist April Dailey; and
Benny Alford.
Best
Local Anti-Litter Practices
This award was presented to the City of Richmond
for its Verizon/SuperCity Cleanup held in March of 2004.
What if everyone in Richmond got together on one day to
make a difference? How much could be accomplished if everyone
made some contribution, no matter how small?
Those were the questions asked and answered by the City of
Richmond/Verizon SuperCity Clean-up. This one-day event
pre-registered more than 6,300 volunteers representing more than
300 groups. Participants collected litter, planted flowers,
cleared up illegal dump sites, spruced up City parks, and
removed graffiti and illegal signs. The City distributed over
4000 litter picker-uppers and 8000 orange trash bags.
Estimates show that more than 260 tons of litter were
collected, which translates to approximately 83 pounds of trash
per volunteer. Best of all, the event energized many City
neighborhoods, and provided hope that the clean-up work will
continue until next year's event.
Accepting the 2004 award for Best Local Anti-Litter
Practices were the City of Richmond's Department of Public Works
Director Diane Linderman, Clean City Commission coordinator
Billie Raines, current Clean City Commission chair Steve
Nuckolls, and the Commission's past Chair Walter M. Dotts III.
In addition, Scenic Virginia recognized Bill Farrar and Andrew
Glenn of the Department of Public Works, and Steve Clamenti and
Randy Dillard of Verizon, the event's title sponsor.
Best
Preservation of a Scenic Water Corridor
This award
was given to the Town of Luray for the
Luray-Hawksbill Greenway.
There is something undeniably charming about a scenic walk
along a meandering creek. Recognizing a unique opportunity to
showcase an urban waterway, Luray officials and volunteers
developed the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway, a scenic path that
follows Hawksbill Creek for four miles through the center of
town. Luray citizens now have safe and easy access to a
beautiful linear park that offers outdoor recreational
activities including walking, biking, Class A trout fishing and
wildlife watching; and in fact a portion of the greenway is
included on the Virginia Birding Trail. The Town also restored
the riparian buffer, with the result that the Creek’s water
quality has improved significantly.
Accepting the award from the Town of Luray for the
Luray-Hawksbill Greenway for were Mayor Ralph Dean, Parks &
Recreation Director Pat O'Brien, and Greenway Volunteer
Coordinator Ken Beyer.
Scenic Hero (revealed at the Awards ceremony)
Scenic
Virginia reserves this honor for a citizen, elected official, or
organization that has accomplished something extraordinary or
that has a long history of work on scenic conservation issues.
This year’s honoree has done both. From their work to restore
historic gardens to their fight against billboards to their
determination to stay up-to-date regarding legislative issues,
these women demonstrate every day their commitment to the
conservation of the Commonwealth’s natural resources and the
beautification of its landscapes. And they have the most
wonderful headquarters imaginable.
The 2004 award for Scenic Hero was presented to The
Garden Club of Virginia. Accepting this well-deserved award
was president Deedy Bumgardner of Staunton. In addition, Scenic
Virginia recognizes past presidents Bessie Carter, Helen Turner
Murphy, and Katherine T. Mears, who attended the Awards program.
2004
Endangered Virginia Viewshed
In keeping with Scenic America’s model for Last Chance
Landscapes, Scenic Virginia selected a particularly
beautiful Virginia vista that is in imminent danger of being
destroyed. The ridges in Highland County – without question one
of the prettiest sights in Virginia -- are in the process of
being rezoned to house a wind energy farm consisting of 400-foot
high wind turbines. This action will destroy the natural and
scenic beauty of the ridges, detract from tourism and economic
development, and cause serious harm to the migrating and native
bird and bat populations.
The Friends of Highland County has been fighting to protect
this area of exceptional beauty. Like them, Scenic Virginia
supports alternate sources of energy, and we join the Friends in
asking that criteria be developed regarding appropriate siting
of these structures on the East Coast and that further study be
conducted on their effects on the surrounding animal population.
Representing the Friends of Highland County were Lucile
Miller and McChesney Goodall.
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