By Scott Nicholson

The Blue Ridge Parkway welcomes its largest budget increase in years with approval of a $1.9 million boost in the federal budget.
“It’s the biggest increase in the national park budget I’ve seen, and I’ve been with the park service 35 years,” said Parkway Superintendent Phil Francis. “There are obviously a lot of different options on how to spend tax dollars, but we’re just delighted we were deemed a priority.”
For years, park service officials had been complaining about languishing budgets and the decline in maintenance that affected visitor experience. As the public began noticing a cutback in operation, maintenance and programming, they began writing their senators and congressional representatives, encouraging them to support budget adjustments to support the critical need.
The boost, while expected, was still not a done deal until the budget was adopted, and Superintendent Francis acknowledged that a big chunk of federal highway dollars would also help offset years of neglect.
The Parkway will get $30 million in federal transportation funds, which the Superintendent says would address “a huge backlog in road maintenance” for the roadway, which extends 469 miles from western North Carolina into central Virginia. But the most immediate benefit will be in the improved maintenance for both grounds and structures.
The Superintendent said the increase would fund 47 seasonal jobs, 30 of them for maintenance positions.
“That’s really where the need is,” Superintendent Francis said. “We’ve lost about 58 permanent jobs in the last six years. This will allow us to hire seasonal employees and help significantly in making strides and maintain services at a level our visitors expect.”
Last year’s increase of $400,000 basically covered cost-of-living increases for existing positions, the Superintendent said. This year, the Parkway budget is nearly $16 million.
“This will help keep the national parks secure for future generations,” he said. “That’s what we’re here for, to promote these special places.”
The latest big news for the Parkway is the opening of the Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center at Milepost 384 on the Parkway on December 17. The center, located near Fletcher, N.C. was the first major initiative under the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.
The center’s exhibit showcases the natural and cultural diversity, economic traditions and recreation opportunities found in Western North Carolina and along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Center also houses a 70-seat theater, information and orientation services and book sales area. The theater features The Blue Ridge Parkway - America’s Favorite Journey, a 24-minute film shown hourly.
A variety of listening stations and interactive exhibits are available as well, and the center is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily.
A grand opening ceremony is planned for spring.
“The national parks have over 400 million visitors a year,” Superintendent Francis said in welcoming the addition of the center and a renewed support for the park service mission. The improvements we are now able to accomplish will help as we get the Parkway ready for the 75th anniversary celebration coming in 2010.”
In addition to the increase in federal funding, the Parkway is also supported by private and non-profit ventures, such as the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.
Commenting on the budget increase, Foundation Executive Director, Dr. Houck Medford said this week, that while the $1.9 million is welcome news, the use of the funds is restricted only to the hiring of seasonal employees. “Fifty seven vacancies will still remain on the Parkway’s permanent workforce with critically missing players on the playing field; such as a community planner who is responsible for park-to-community relationships in 29 adjoining counties and with 4,500 adjacent land owners; a concessions chief who administrates the quality of hotel and restaurant units; and a chief of cultural resources who manage and direct preservation activities such as the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.
“Only slightly over 30 ranger positions are filled to insure adequate Parkway safety and the protection of its resources,” Medford said. “Twice that many are needed.”
The Foundation director said that an additional budget allocation of $4.1 million is needed to fund lost permanent positions for the nation’s busiest national park.