Monday, September 20, 2010

Mark Fenton, Pedestrian Advocate will speak at the Greenway Conference


Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation Program Presents:

Creating Happy Healthy Communities Workshops

Featuring MARK FENTON
Pedestrian Advocate and nationally recognized expert on Healthy Communities

Mark Fenton will present about what it means to have a healthy community. He will discuss how health, transportation, environment, land-use and economic development advocates can influence policies and investments to encourage communities that are designed to support healthy eating active living. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in discussion on how these goals can be achieved at the local level.




Wednesday September 29th, 2010 • GREENWAY PLANNING CONFERENCE: 8 am-3 pm; CAMP EGAN-- 26633 Highway 62, Tahlequah, OK. This is an organizing conference in which greenway intent, goals and governance will be planned.


REGISTRATION: If you are planning to attend this event, please email your name, address, phone number to Kathy Tibbits:  ktibbits@lrec.org


Who should attend? Parents, School Administration, Educators, City/Town/Tribal Zoning and Planning, Elected Officials, City/Tribal Councilors, Business Leaders, City Street Departments, County Commissioners, Chamber of Commerce, Concerned Citizens that are interested in making the healthy choice the easy choice in their communities.  

Friday, August 27, 2010

Working Conference on the Greenway September 29

The agenda for the September 29 Working Conference has been finalized. If you're a member of the Greenway of the Cherokee Ozarks Yahoo Group, you can find it posted on that site. If not, you can email me to be added to the mailing list and the yahoo group: steve.woodall@cox. net.

This is a planning conference in which all participants will be asked to help develop the goals, programming ideas and organizational framework for the greenway. You are cordially invited to participate. We are expecting attendance from numerous large land-owners such as state, federal and tribal agencies and numerous non-profit agencies who are interested in outdoor education, recreation, active living and natural resource conservation.

Please email me for further information.
Steve Woodall

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Greenway of the Cherokee Ozarks

From I-40 on the South to Highway 412 on the North, the Ozarks Mountain bioregion juts into Eastern Oklahoma where once was Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory. Today the area is a mecca for locals and tourists flocking to the water features of Lake Tenkiller and the Illinois River, and to Sallisaw Creek and Brushy Lake south around Marble City and Sallisaw.

Stop and note just how many outdoor healthy living recreational opportunities exist, from hiking and hunting in the Cookson Wildlife Management Area to floating rafts, canoes and kayaks on the Illinois and camping in public access areas surrounding Lake Tenkiller.

This area is rich with wildlife, both usual and rare. It abounds with the plants familiar to our ancestors and used for baskets, fishing poles, food and medicine. Steve Woodall describes one aspect of the Greenway’s conservation and cultural tourism slant, “Over the centuries, we’ve managed to somehow harmoniously co-exist, preventing the loss of some unique habitat, and it makes this area just a special place to be. ”

Cultural learning, hiking, biking, boating, and exploring the treasures of local history are some of the reasons that Myra Robertson of Blue Sky Water Society at Marble City has a dream of connecting the dots thru the Ozarks to define the Greenway of the Cherokee Ozarks. When National Park Service’s Joy Lujan came to help, a clear picture began to emerge. Groups and organizations, cities and local governments have begun to find in common, ways to work together to strengthen and complete a big picture.

This is an open project, where communities can dream of the future they want for their children, and be mindful of that as we move forward. Blue Sky Water is hosting a one-day organizational conference at Camp Eagan beginning at 9 a.m. on September 29th. Facilitator Steve Woodall encourages everyone who is interested to attend and participate. The event is free, although reservations must be made in advance so lunch can be planned. To attend, RSVP by calling 918 696-3175. We’re hoping that civic-minded folks will come from as far away as Vian and Marble City, Salina and from along Brushy Lake, Sallisaw Creek, Tenkiller Lake and Illinois River and its tributaries. “We’d like to plan for a common future with outstanding family recreational opportunities, and keep the tourism economy strong. That will take work and volunteerism. Everyone can be a part of it.”

(Watch for this article in the September issue of  The Current, along with a small ad inviting readers to attend the Septmber 29th Greenway Conference at Camp Eagan, 9 a.m....  RSVP at 918 696 3175 if you would like to attend.)

Friday, August 13, 2010

August Sunrise Near Hulbert

Greenway Graffiti

Greenway Graffiti




by Steve Woodall

August 11, 2010



Kathy Tibbits has been working with National Park Service to get a Greenway of the Cherokee Ozarks web page established. This will improve our ability to communicate about topical issues and will include the latest mapping updates. It will provide opportunities to interact about Greenway issues, provide notices of meetings, discuss development issues, post grant opportunities and so forth.



For the time being, we're resorting to this Yahoo Group, which is a little easier to get up and running. We'll use this blog page as a way to write a bit about the latest issues with greenway planning and development, and to raise some questions for thought and reaction.



I hope you received the preliminary notice of the one day conference being planned for September 29, at Camp Egan, on State Highway 51 a few miles north east of Tahlequah. This will be a working conference, as we move from conceptual discussions to specific plans, and into the issues of greenway implementation and management.



A final agenda and registration will be emailed to you by August 21. Please forward to colleagues and others who with an interest in outdoor recreation, natural resource conservation, healthy lifestyles. There will be no registration fee, but we need a count to prepare food.



As always, please feel free to call me or email me with your questions and ideas about the greenway. 918 344 8945; steve.woodall@cox.net. Look forward to hearing from you.