With eight months under her belt as the superintendent at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, a smiling Sula Jacobs enthusiastically invites all park neighbors and visitors to a “Meet and Greet” on Jan. 16 at the park visitor center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Jacobs explains that during the gathering “park neighbors, stakeholders and visitors will be able to provide their thoughts and feedback on what is most important to them about their national park. At the same time, the park team and I will be able to share exciting program activities and planning scheduled for this year and 2016, the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Park System.”
Jacobs comments that a similar meet and greet was held late last summer. “This was a really great opportunity for me and team members to visit with the local residents who are so passionate not only about their national park but other resources in the area, including the nearby state parks, Lincoln Memorial University and Southeast Kentucky Community Technical College.” According to Jacobs, quarterly meets and greets will be held to insure that strong rapport and robust partnerships continue to be built between the park and local communities and organizations.
A suite of family-oriented events planned for this year include the educational “B.A.C.K. the Bears – Be Educated and Responsible Stewards” scheduled for April 24-25. Speakers, authors, displays and demonstrations will showcase how area residents and black bear can live harmoniously together. In early June, park staff will join the Boy Scouts in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 21-mile long Mischa Mokwa Adventure Trail which climbs the rugged Cumberland Mountain, glides through groves of hemlock and rhododendron, meanders through the historic Hensley Settlement and leads to Sand Cave and White Rocks, exquisite geological features.
June 13 finds park staff gathering with members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and visitors in observing the 100th Anniversary of the placement of two DAR Daniel Boone Trail Markers in the historic Cumberland Gap, including one representing Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. This celebration “The Monuments’ Women” will include living history re-enactors.
The park will also be involved in the development of a foundation document, an internal document that outlines the park’s core mission and significance, its most important resources and values, and the interpretive themes that tell the park’s important stories and which will help facilitate future planning and management. Superintendent Jacobs explains “that feedback gleaned during the January 16th meet and greet will allow the park to take these thoughts into consideration as it prepares this foundation document. Cumberland Gap is part of a broader park system-wide effort that is occurring to develop foundation documents for most of the 408 park units in the park system by its 100th Anniversary.”
Those unable to attend the open house who would like to share what they value most about the park, its greatest opportunities and its most pressing threats can submit feedback by emailing Park Superintendent Jacobs at CUGA_Superintendent@nps.gov. Jacobs requests that feedback be submitted to her no later than Jan. 31.
Additional information on the open house and park events can be obtained by calling the park visitor center at 606-246-1075 or by visiting www.nps.gov/cuga.
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