About
Mission Statement
The mission of the Catawba Valley Heritage Alliance is to preserve natural spaces and improve the quality of life for the public by promoting responsible access to these resources.
The mission of the Catawba Valley Heritage Alliance is to preserve natural spaces and improve the quality of life for the public by promoting responsible access to these resources.
CVHA Board of Directors, photo from a recent Zoom meeting.
The Alliance is governed by a small board of directors with guidance from a board of advisors consisting of elected officials and recognized experts in their respective fields.
Catawba Valley Heritage Alliance was founded on September 8th, 1998 and has been active in pursuing our mission ever since. Our current Board of Directors is as follows:
Board of Directors
President: Kenyon Kelly
Vice President: John Wepner
Secretary: Deborah Hollingsworth
Treasurer: Noah Green
Rob Glynn
Phil Piaski
Guiding Principles
Conservation: We believe in conservation that preserves undeveloped land and scenic areas, offers recreational opportunities and improves the environment. Land conservation serves many purposes, not the least of which is to provide opportunities for trail use, wildlife observation and education. In addition protection of green spaces can provide linkages between habitats critical for native species of flora and fauna. There are numerous other benefits to leaving certain areas undeveloped; for example erosion and flood control, improving air quality, providing vegetative buffers on waterways and directing development and growth away from important natural resource areas. The Catawba Valley Heritage Alliance works in voluntary cooperation with property owners to assist them in conserving their lands.
Economic Development: We believe in economic development that improves our quality of life. Open spaces have many economic benefits which contribute to the local economy. Greenway trails have been recognized in North Carolina for their value as an attractive tourism destinations as well.
Transportation Reform: We believe wise transportation development includes bicycle, pedestrian and public transit facilities. The Alliance seeks to promote improvements in the safety and efficiency of our transportation infrastructure so as to accommodate a wide range of modes which in turn may reduce the dependency on single occupancy motorized vehicles.
Sustainable Growth: We believe “smart” growth incorporates human and ecological concerns in land use. Polls show an overwhelming number of American voters support greater land management to control the effects of urban sprawl. Poorly planned communities cost tax payers millions and lead to public safety problems such as flooding, compromised air and water quality, school overcrowding, traffic congestion and reductions in public services such as fire, emergency and s ewer projects. Whereas, careful planning can not only improve public safety but save precious resources and protect capital investments. The development and realty community has begun to recognize that green space and park land are amenities which greatly effect their bottom line. The new approach to land use design called ”New Urbanism” has recently emerged incorporating these feature and combining adaptive reuse of abandoned structures, infill areas and redevelopment of neglected old industrial sites. We believe that sustainable growth offers the promise of a brighter future with both a cleaner environment and a stronger economy.
Historic Preservation: We believe the character of a community is defined as much by its past as by it’s commitment to the future. The Alliance seeks to preserve what remains of the cultural heritage of the region for the educational and scenic benefits they offer.
Accountability: We believe in partnerships that maximize human and financial resources.
Efficiency: We believe in being responsible stewards of our financial resources as well as our natural resources.
President: Kenyon Kelly
Vice President: John Wepner
Secretary: Deborah Hollingsworth
Treasurer: Noah Green
Rob Glynn
Phil Piaski
Guiding Principles
Conservation: We believe in conservation that preserves undeveloped land and scenic areas, offers recreational opportunities and improves the environment. Land conservation serves many purposes, not the least of which is to provide opportunities for trail use, wildlife observation and education. In addition protection of green spaces can provide linkages between habitats critical for native species of flora and fauna. There are numerous other benefits to leaving certain areas undeveloped; for example erosion and flood control, improving air quality, providing vegetative buffers on waterways and directing development and growth away from important natural resource areas. The Catawba Valley Heritage Alliance works in voluntary cooperation with property owners to assist them in conserving their lands.
Economic Development: We believe in economic development that improves our quality of life. Open spaces have many economic benefits which contribute to the local economy. Greenway trails have been recognized in North Carolina for their value as an attractive tourism destinations as well.
Transportation Reform: We believe wise transportation development includes bicycle, pedestrian and public transit facilities. The Alliance seeks to promote improvements in the safety and efficiency of our transportation infrastructure so as to accommodate a wide range of modes which in turn may reduce the dependency on single occupancy motorized vehicles.
Sustainable Growth: We believe “smart” growth incorporates human and ecological concerns in land use. Polls show an overwhelming number of American voters support greater land management to control the effects of urban sprawl. Poorly planned communities cost tax payers millions and lead to public safety problems such as flooding, compromised air and water quality, school overcrowding, traffic congestion and reductions in public services such as fire, emergency and s ewer projects. Whereas, careful planning can not only improve public safety but save precious resources and protect capital investments. The development and realty community has begun to recognize that green space and park land are amenities which greatly effect their bottom line. The new approach to land use design called ”New Urbanism” has recently emerged incorporating these feature and combining adaptive reuse of abandoned structures, infill areas and redevelopment of neglected old industrial sites. We believe that sustainable growth offers the promise of a brighter future with both a cleaner environment and a stronger economy.
Historic Preservation: We believe the character of a community is defined as much by its past as by it’s commitment to the future. The Alliance seeks to preserve what remains of the cultural heritage of the region for the educational and scenic benefits they offer.
Accountability: We believe in partnerships that maximize human and financial resources.
Efficiency: We believe in being responsible stewards of our financial resources as well as our natural resources.
