GSMNP -- May 18, 2002 - The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization will be holding an open house forum for the Cades Cove Opportunities Plan on Thursday May 23rd from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Townsend Elementary at 140 Tiger Drive. The purpose of the meeting is to seek public input regarding ideas and issues about future management and development in Cades Cove, including various options for visitor access to the Cove.
Cades Cove has experienced the pressures of increasing visitation for decades. Over the years this pressure has caused slow changes in the Cove in order to accommodate the growing numbers of visitors and automobiles while also trying to retain its unique sense of place. In 1955 the road was paved and converted to a one-way loop providing access to cabins and trails located along the 11-mile road. Today Cades Cove is an "idealized" pastoral landscape combining mown fields, native grassland restoration, and pioneer-era buildings which gives the Cove a unique identity and attracts both wildlife and human visitors in vast numbers.
Cades Cove has become so popular that visitor access related problems are overshadowing the visitor experience. During peak times it often takes up to 4 hours to negotiate the 11-mile loop road.
The National Park Service and the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization have undertaken a development concept & transportation management planning project for Cades Cove. The National Park Service's mission is to " . . . preserve, unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Parks System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations." This mission statement is the guiding principle for the Cades Cove Opportunities Plan.
The issues surrounding Cades Cove are complex. A broad vision is needed to manage the demands being placed on the Cove. Establishing the most important values and a holistic view of the Cove is a critical foundation for making management decisions about the Cove's future.
The Cades Cove Opportunities Plan will result in a range of alternatives that provide for a comprehensive, long-range approach for managing the natural and cultural resources and improving the quality of visitor experience by providing for greater visitor mobility through a variety of transportation initiatives. The alternatives will: be consistent with National Park Service goals, policies and procedures, comply with legal requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (106); and reflect input from a wide range of public involvement opportunities throughout the project.
Completion of the Plan is expected to take 18-24 months. A project web site will be available by the end of May 2002. The site www.cadescoveopp.com will be used not only to announce the dates of future meetings but also to provide project information and public comment forms.
