Park Service Invites Public to Help Develop John Smith Trail
September 2008 -- The National Park Service will hold a series of open houses throughout the Bay region in late September and early October to gather input from the public on the new Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.
The John Smith Trail, established in 2006, retraces the 1607-1609 voyages of Captain John Smith on the Bay and its tributaries. The trail, which stretches from Virginia to Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C., commemorates Smith’s voyages, interprets the Bay’s natural history and teaches the public about Chesapeake Indian societies and cultures.
During the sessions, the Park Service will:
- Provide the public with background information about the trail.
- Explain the suggested interpretive themes of the trail.
- Share issues and ask questions that will help the agency develop a comprehensive plan and environmental assessment for the trail.
The Park Service will use the public feedback received at the sessions to develop programs and concepts for paddlers, hikers and other users of the John Smith Trail.
The schedule of public open houses is:
- Tuesday, Sept. 23 in Jamestown, Va.
- Wednesday, Sept. 24 in Deltaville, Va.
- Thursday, Sept. 25 in Alexandria, Va.
- Tuesday, Sept. 30 in Baltimore, Md.
- Wednesday, Oct. 1 in Seaford, Del.
- Thursday, Oct. 2 in Havre de Grace, Md.
- Tuesday, Oct. 7 in Cape Charles, Va.
- Wednesday, Oct. 8 in St. Michaels, Md.
For more information about the public open houses, including a detailed schedule and workshop materials, visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov/cajo. To learn more about the John Smith Trail, visit the Park Service’s John Smith Trail website.