Following are objectives and strategies linked to the SPTA goals. These will lead to specific action steps for development of the Byway. The priorities and activity under each strategy will vary depending upon the priorities and capacity of partner organizations, funding and resources available, and successful completion of successive steps. Additional actions, and even changes in objectives and strategies, will be needed over time based on progress and emerging needs of the Byway. Thus this “plan” will change and grow as the development of the Byway progresses. This is a living document, and will be reviewed and updated periodically by the SPTA Board.
At the time of this writing (December 2005) the following are the identified top priorities for the SPTA Byway organization.
Seek National Scenic Byway designation
Develop web page including both interpretive and visitor information.
Develop a whole Byway brochure.
Support partners developing Byway facilities, including interpretive, visitor information, and research facilities. Those currently in process or discussion include Beverly Heritage Center, Weston State Hospital facilities, and developing or improving research facilities in Beverly (Logan House)Buckhannon (Historical Society) and Weston (Hackers Creek Library).
Develop interpretive wayside signage for the remainder of the Byway to complete the product begun for the initial section.
Develop oral history collection and audio history product for the remainder of the Byway to complete the product begun for the initial section.
Goal I -- Identify and protect resources
Identify our intrinsic quality resources (historic, archaeological, cultural, natural, scenic, and outdoor recreation) and work to conserve, protect, and restore them.
Objective A -- Continue to identify, survey, and recognize intrinsic quality resources.
Strategy 1) Keep updated comprehensive lists of resources in the region.
Strategy 2) Do detailed resource surveys as appropriate.
Strategy 3) Nominate sites to the National Register as appropriate.
Objective B -- Acquire and protect significant resources.
Strategy 1) Encourage acquisition of significant properties by sympathetic public, non-profit, and private owners.
Strategy 2) Encourage easements, covenants, and other protection tools for significant properties.
Strategy 3) Use public awareness and education strategies to promote preservation.
Objective C -- Restore and rehabilitate historic properties.
Strategy 1) Restore or rehabilitate historic properties owned by partners for use as Byway attractions and services.
Strategy 2) Encourage private and public rehabilitation of historic buildings by supplying preservation information, support, and recognition.
Objective D -- Conserve or restore endangered or damaged natural resources or ecosystems.
Strategy 1) Work with natural resource conservation groups to protect and restore endangered natural areas.
Goal II -- Interpret and enhance resources.
Provide interpretation and education about our intrinsic resources, and appropriately develop them for visitation in ways that value authenticity, quality, and respect for the resource and the community.
Objective A -- Implement interpretation of the Byway.
Strategy 1) Create written materials including Byway overview brochure and driving tour identifying sites along the Byway.
Strategy 2) Design interpretive signage.
Strategy 3) Implement Multi Media events and products, such as web site and audio history.
Strategy 4) Identify and implement Visitor Centers, in cooperation with partners. Beverly (Beverly Heritage Center), Weston, Parkersburg as primary locations.
Strategy 5) Provide archives and research facilities in cooperation with partners. Beverly (Logan House), Weston (Hacker’s Creek), Buckhannon, Parkersburg
Objective B – Improve interpretation for individual sites and themes.
Strategy 1) Work in close partnership with individual sites to enhance their interpretation and include SPTA themes. Partner sites include (but are not limited to) Camp Allegheny, Durbin, Cheat Summit Fort, Beverly, Rich Mountain, Glass Museum, Weston State Hospital, Oil and Gas Museum, and Blennerhassett Museum.
Strategy 2) Work in close partnership with other heritage initiatives to enhance thematic interpretation including SPTA themes. Heritage theme topics include (but are not limited to) early settlement; transportation including building of Turnpike, bridges, and railroads; Civil War; slavery, the slave trade, and Underground Railroad; Appalachian culture; industrial revolution in West Virginia including railroads, lumbering, mining, and oil and gas industries; conservation including formation of National Forests and CCC; depression era and changing economies of twentieth-century.
Strategy 3) Further interpretive signage.
Strategy 4) Further site brochures and written materials.
Strategy 5) Further exhibits and visitor centers interpreting sites and themes.
Strategy 6) Further multi-media interpretation including electronic, audio, and video.
Strategy 7) Develop capacity for in-person interpretation, including first person, reenactments, and thematic tours.
Objective C -- Develop additional sites for public access.
Strategy 1) Work to develop access, management, and interpretation of additional significant sites. Potential sites that may be developed in the future may include Traveler’s Repose / Camp Bartow, Burner house, Tygart’s Valley Homesteads, Mt. Iser, Farnsworth House, Richie Mines Wildlife Management Area.
Strategy 2) Work with private owners who may wish to develop their property for public access, including possibility of easements or management agreements.
Strategy 3) Work with willing sellers to purchase key sites that can be developed for interpreted visitation.
Objective D – Implement new Festivals and special events and support existing ones.
Strategy 1) Continue and improve turnpike connection with existing periodic events.
Strategy 2) Orchestrate series of events to draw attention to Byway.
Strategy 3) Support existing and new events for sustained regularity as Turnpike attractions.
Objective E -- Involve schools.
Strategy 1) Develop and implement local history school curriculums.
Strategy 2) Encourage field trips.
Strategy 3) Involve schools and youth groups in site improvement projects.
Objective F -- Develop more outdoor recreation.
Strategy 1) Develop new turnpike related hiking trails.
Strategy 2) Develop targeted brochures, such as birding, watchable wildlife, etc.
Strategy 3) Encourage and market existing and new outfitters, guides, recreation businesses and attractions.
Strategy 4) Encourage the development of recreational fishing for the diverse variety of species existing along the Turnpike.
Goal III -- Promote appropriate tourism.
Plan for and encourage tourists who are attracted by the resources the Byway offers to visit the Byway and our communities. Develop tourism services and businesses that will provide jobs and community economic development. Provide cooperative promotion and marketing of the Turnpike as a heritage tourism destination. Offer an authentic, quality, and positive experience for visitors and the community.
Objective A -- Develop directional and welcome signage.
Strategy 1) Develop Byway and DOT signage
Strategy 2) Develop supplemental signage and logo use.
Strategy 3) Provide gateways, waysides, and sites directional signage.
Objective B -- Improve tourism services.
Strategy 1) Encourage more variety and high quality restaurants.
Strategy 2) Encourage more variety and high quality lodging.
Strategy 3) Encourage more variety/quality of crafts, antiques, gift shops.
Strategy 4) Provide traveler’s facilities, such as waysides, restrooms, and parking.
Strategy 5) Provide hospitality training.
Strategy 6) Encourage or provide business training and support services for tourism businesses.
Objective C – Improve Marketing and promotion.
Strategy 1) Develop and implement public relations plan.
Strategy 2) Develop and implement marketing plan when products are in place.
Strategy 2) Develop successive marketing plans for each year’s promotion.
Goal IV-- Encourage Involvement and stewardship.
Promote constituency and grassroots involvement that will encourage pride and stewardship. Utilize collaborative partnerships to effectively work together to bring the Turnpike vision alive.
Objective A -- Develop A Management Entity.
Strategy 1) Establish and maintain an organization.
Strategy 2) Fund the staff and office.
Strategy 3) Work towards sustainability.
Objective B -- Improve public awareness.
Strategy 1) Improve press coverage
Strategy 2) Keep our signs up and in repair.
Strategy 3) Publicize events.
Objective C -- Build public participation.
Strategy 1) Build membership involvement.
Strategy 2) Publish newsletters.
Strategy 3) Hold meetings.
Strategy 4) Work with civic and community groups to increase visibility and foster stewardship.
Strategy 5) Collaborate and cross-promote with other local and regional groups with compatible missions, especially on cooperative heritage tourism strategies.
Strategy 6) Keep up personal contacts with businesses and civic groups
