Blue Ridge party planners

It might be 15 months away, but organizers today and Friday will issue a “call to action” for involvement and participation in the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th anniversary in 2010.

Blue Ridge Parkway 75, incorporated in July 2007 to organize the anniversary celebration, is hosting a symposium today that will, according to Executive Director Lisa Brandon, “intermingle” the past, present and the future of the 469-mile parkway – its northern end beginning about a mile outside of Waynesboro.

The symposium, taking place at the Vinton War Memorial, will feature discussions and presentations on the parkway’s construction, along with issues and efforts related to preserving the parkway.

On Friday morning, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and 6th District Congressman Bob Goodlatte will be among the featured speakers on the Roanoke River Parkway — connecting the Blue Ridge Parkway with Virginia’s Explore Park – at milepost 115.

They, along with Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Phil Francis, retired Superintendent Gary Everhardt and Carlton Abbott, the son of parkway architect Stanley Abbott, will outline 75th anniversary plans at a news conference.

The two events, according to Blue Ridge Parkway 75 Executive Director Lisa Brandon, are designed to build awareness of the anniversary and get people involved in the planning process.

“Launching it with this pair of events is important and will set a tone that I hope will bode well for lots of successes in the coming months and years,” Brandon said.

She said the parkway has a “symbiotic” relationship with communities along the parkway.

“What happens with the communities affect the parkway, and what happens with the parkway affects the communities,” Brandon said.

Brandon said parkway communities see more than $2.2 billion yearly in economic impact.

“Those are good billions of dollars to talk about,” she said.