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3.4 Emerging Themes and Guiding Principles
3.4 EMERGING THEMES & GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The Emerging Themes and Guiding Principles provide the framework and rationale for the recommendations made in Chapter 4. These principles will help guide local leaders and decision-makers as they make strategic investments.
The McDowell County Tourism Development Authority will work in partnership with McDowell County, the Towns of Marion and Old Fort, the community of Little Switzerland, and other key stakeholder groups to effectively steward tourism infrastructure dollars to enhance quality of life and spur economic growth.
The five (5) emerging themes include: 1) Partnerships; 2) Downtown Investment; 3) Natural Resource Conservation Through Recreation; 4) Asset Connectivity; and 5) Public Awareness. 1. PARTNERSHIPS
Establish and maintain partnerships between federal, state and local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to plan, implement, and manage tourism and outdoor recreation infrastructure projects. 2. DOWNTOWN INVESTMENT
Create vibrant, attractive, and walkable Main Street communities that feature a variety of commercial and residential land uses. Install quality infrastructure that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Incorporate public space that provides connectivity with surrounding neighborhoods and recreational assets through state, regional, and local trail and greenway systems.
Conserve and sustain natural resources, rural landscapes, and water quality through wellconceived trail corridors, public river accesses, and conservation lands. 4. ASSET CONNECTIVITY
Invest in outdoor recreation infrastructure that increases access and connectivity among natural resources, commercial areas, residential neighborhoods, and historic assets. 5. PUBLIC AWARENESS
Increase public awareness for opportunities, both County-wide and within the Main Street communities, to visit and experience culturally significant and historic sites, outdoor recreation assets, and extensive natural resources.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter serves as the heart of the Destination McDowell Tourism Master Plan and is organized according to two (2) primary Tourism Areas as identified through the plan process: 1) County-wide Connections; and 2) Main Street Communities. Each Tourism Area includes three (3) Focus Areas which each include specific tourism infrastructure development Projects.
The County-wide Connections Tourism Area outlines trail connectivity and infrastructure priorities and provides recommendations for wayfinding signage and community gateways that will increase public awareness of tourism assets throughout the County.
The Main Street Communities Tourism Area highlights priority tourism infrastructure projects in Marion, Old Fort, and Little Switzerland. This chapter is organized into the following sections:
