Page 9 - High Knob Master Plan

PLANNING PROCESS
There has been a long history of independently planning for great outdoors assets in the region, stretching back at least to 1888, with Big Stone Gap was envisioned to host a large resort hotel in the middle and a series of greenway trails around the river. More recently, in the 1960s, a group of Norton businessmen proposed a ski lodge and resort on the north slopes of High Knob. The Forest Service has been planning and implementing beaches, trails, and visitor facilities in the region for decades.
The vision for the High Knob Region crystalized a decade before the start of the High Knob Regional Master Plan when arsonists burned the High Knob Observation Tower to the ground in October 2007. The unfortunate event unified the communities surrounding High Knob by highlighting its importance as a shared asset. A non-profit, the High Knob Enhancement Corporation (HKEC), formed in the aftermath of the tower’s burning. This dedicated group of residents from communities surrounding High Knob raised funds to rebuild the observation tower. The new tower was unveiled in August 2014. The HKEC later expanded its mission to include promoting the enhancement and use of High Knob and the communities within its footprint to create a destination for visitors seeking outdoor recreational and educational experiences. By establishing this shared vision for the region, the group laid the foundation for the High Knob Regional Initiative and the High Knob Regional Master Plan.
The High Knob Regional Master Plan is the product of a comprehensive and transparent community engagement process led by the steering committee and the consultant team of Hill Studio, Arnett Muldrow & Associates, and Thompson & Litton. This steering committee includes representatives from Friends of Southwest Virginia, the Lenowisco Planning District Commission, Wise County Tourism, Scott County Economic Development, UVA Wise, The Nature Conservancy, Spearhead Trails, the U.S. Forest Service, and the nine communities in Wise, Lee, and Scott counties. The steering committee met periodically during the 2 year master planning process. Steering committee members were assigned to action teams responsible for specific tasks relating to the planning process and implementation.
To engage the public in the visioning process, the Community Participation and Marketing team developed a community outreach plan to maximize involvement from leaders and residents of major communities in the region. Workshops and forums were held in multiple communities to garner input from a variety of stakeholders. Two online surveys allowed those unable to participate in person to take part in the planning effort. The community engagement process identified perceptions of the region’s character and identity of the region from residents, outdoor recreation users, and other stakeholders. These insights helped establish the vision and principles of the High Knob Regional Initiative and informed decisions about capital improvements that will advance regional goals.
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