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HomeMy WebLinkAbout95-04RESOLUTION NO. 95-4 RESOLUTION ADOPTING VISION STATEMENT FOR THE TOWN OF PULASKI WHEREAS, the Town of Pulaski stands on the threshold of a new frontier of cultural, educational, and recreational development; and WHEREAS, the Raymond F. Ratcliff Memorial Museum, located in the renovated Pulaski Train Station, represents the vision of the late Raymond F. Ratcliff, who served as Mayor of Pulaski from 1974 to 1985; and WHEREAS, the New River Trail State Park is being developed to extend to the renovated Train Station where a Visitor's Center is being planned; and WHEREAS, the Old Pulaski County Courthouse, Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley, Claytor Lake State Park and Wilderness Road Regional Museum are located in or close to Pulaski and promote the historical significance of Pulaski and recreational opportunities. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Pulaski Town Council endorses the • attached preliminary Vision Statement for the Town of Pulaski, Virginia. This resolution is effective upon adoption and is adopted by recorded vote of the Town Council of the Town of Pulaski, Virginia on this 7th day of March, 1995, as follows: John A. Johnston -Aye Roy H. D'Ardenne, Jr, - Aye John W. Stone -Absent W. Edgar Hale - -T Bettye H. Steger -Aye Alma H. Holston - ~~ W. H. Schrader, Jr. -Aye E. G. Black, Jr. - Abe BV: Andrew L. Graham, Jr. Mayor ATTEST: Ru h A. Harrell Clerk of Council • A VISION FOR PULASKI, VIRGINIA • The Town of Pulaski stands on the threshold of a new frontier of cultural, educational, and recreational development. Seizing a unique set of opportunities can bring this vision to reality . Pulaski's legacy as a railroad and mining town and "the cultural center of Southwest Virginia" comes to life in the newly restored Pulaski Train Station, recapturing early days in "Martin's Tank" and the burgeoning new town of "Pulaski City," incorporated in 1886. The station in its heydey is portrayed, complete with a model ticket office of the 1890s. The grand _ old Maple Shade Inn is depicted -- drawing visitors from far and near for fine food, entertainment, and horse and carriage drives through the mountains surrounding the town. • The Pulaski Train Station has become the trailhead for the New River Trail State Park, once again drawing visitors from far and near: Anew building complex, architecturally compatible with the Train Station, has emerged nearby. The Pulaski Train Station/Information Center/Museum complex, complete with restroom facilities and parking lot, is surrounded by two "theme parks" which include wayside stops and commemorative markers to honor those who bequeathed to us a place of freedom and opportunity. The new museum complex houses the comprehensive heritage of the Town of Pulaski through the twentieth century, providing roots of pride and inspiration for coming generations. ;.° r~ U .2 EXISTING FACILITIES Raymond F. Ratcliff Museum An Overview The Raymond F. Ratcliff Museum, located in the renovated Pulaski Train Station, represents the vision of the late Raymond F. Ratcliff, who served as Mayor of Pulaski from 1974 to 1985. By the time of his death in 1985, he had amassed a large collection of heritage museum pieces. Formerly housed in the basement of the town municipal building, the items are now displayed in the Pulaski Train Station. The Ratcliff Museum is a significant start in preserving and sharing • Pulaski's rich history -- a noble "seedling" for a comprehensive museum which will bring to life religious, educational, cultural, and economic heritage and feature significant people and events in the 109-year span of the Town of Pulaski. Additional museum display space is a vital need. New River Trail State Park A plan is being developed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of State Parks, to extend the New River Trail two miles into Pulaski, with the Pulaski Train Station becoming the trailhead. The New River Trail State Park, a unique linear park extending 59 miles from Pulaski to Galax along the New River,. offers unprecedented opportunities for hikers, bikers, horseback riders, photographers, and nature lovers. Vital needs at the Pulaski Train Station .are an information center, restroom • facilities, and a parking lot. The expansion of existing facilities into a Pulaski Train Station/Information Center/Museum complex, with surrounding °theme parks," will provide a magnificent setting for the trailhead. Parks Jackson Park, located directly across from the Train Station on Route 11, features a gazebo, historic markers, and a water fountain and is widely used for community concerts and festivals. It serves as a "theme park" for Pulaski's heritage. 3 Dora Highway Park, located adjacent to the Train Station and currently used • as a playground, could become a "companion theme park," promoting Pulaski's legacy. Old Pulaski County Courthouse Located on Main Street in Pulaski, two blocks from the Pulaski Train Station, the Old Courthouse, restored after a fire in 1989, contains heritage exhibits which provide an overview of Pulaski County from the present back into geologic time. For the first time, the story of New River geology is told and the culture and lifestyle of Indians of the New River comes to life. The story of early settlers unfolds, followed by portrayal of life in Pulaski County from its founding in 1839 to the present. Pulaski Theater Friends of the Pulaski Theater are hard at work to develop a plan to restore • the old theater and transform it into a cultural asset, bringing the performing arts to Pulaski. Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley Located on Main Street in Pulaski, across from the Old Courthouse, the Fine Arts Center is run by volunteers and a paid director. The center provides cultural outreach through gallery shows, a giftshop featuring the work of area artisans, classes, and displays of historical significance. Area Faci 1 i ti.es Claytor Lake State Park The age of tourism dawned in Pulaski County in 1948 with the opening of the new Claytor Lake State Park. The majestic beauty of the setting and wide variety of activities for both water and land enthusiasts attract over 300,000 visitors annually. The park's. historic Howe House is used as a visitor center and features exhibits on life of the early settlers of the region, as well as the plant and animal life. Developing the Pulaski Train Station/Information Center/Museum complex would greatly enhance tourism in Pulaski County. r ~ 4 Wilderness Road Regional Museum Founded in 1980, the regional museum shares unique legacies of the New River Valley. Located in Newbern, Pulaski County, in the Hance/Alexander house and additional structures on a six-acre tract, it is owned and operated by the New River Historical Society, comprising the counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski, and the City of Radford. SllN~IARY When the envisioned Pulaski Train Station/Information Center/Museum complex with surrounding "theme parks" becomes reality, it will greatly enhance and complement existing facilities in the area and bring unprecedented opportunities for the town, county, and region. As the new millennium dawns, Pulaski can become "the cultural, educational, and recreational center of Southwest Virginia," a mecca in a rapidly changing and mobile society. Pulaski has a legacy of faith, • courage, integrity, and hard work to uphold for future generations. Now is the time to "seize the day." z :-a 6~~~ ~~ ,c.~. k' ~' C I