Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area Management Plan - Lithonia, GA

The Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Management Plan represents a comprehensive strategy for the Heritage Area that will stimulate economic development, preserve key landscapes and conserve historic and cultural resources through sustainable practices. It combines an innovative plan with an effective community-minded planning process. The extensive nine-month outreach process included utilizing a variety of methods for engaging and informing the public including meetings, an extensive project database, mail announcements, Internet newsletters and an interactive web site.

Through the planning effort the team of consultants, led by Pond, completed an environmental assessment, extensive stakeholder outreach process that established goals, guidelines and strategies, and a concept plan for the Heritage Area. The Plan represents a vision that will protect the Heritage Area’s assets, physically link key venues, and foster educational opportunities to communicate the region’s layered heritage.

A key component of the concept plan is themed walking, driving, and water routes so residents and visitors can ‘get out and experience’ the Heritage Area. The three-prong route system will connect visitors to five focus areas with corresponding gateways that will utilize facilities, interpretive venues, and graphic materials to convey the unique stories of the people, culture, history, and natural environment of the Heritage Area. A visitor center will provide a centralized gathering place, an overview of the Heritage Area’s stories, and direction to other gateways and interpretive venues.