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| Purpose & Objectives |
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The land that comprises the Heritage Area includes active quarries, rolling topography, rural landscapes and unique granite outcroppings, especially Arabia and Panola mountains, which represent two of the State's three largest exposed granite formations. Other significant cultural features include the City of Lithonia- known for its history in the quarry industry- and the early African-American settlements found in such communities as Flat Rock and Klondike. These and other qualities all comprise a unique "cultural landscape," essentially creating an area that is rich in natural, cultural, social and economic characteristics, reflecting an on-going collaborative relationship between people and the land.
The Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Management Plan provides a framework for the collaboration of activities and programs necessary to meet the Heritage area's goals and objectives. These goals and objectives, which will be defined during the community participation process, will be unique to the area, and will guide the entire nine-month process. Required by Congress once the Heritage area receives national designation, the plan is essentially a 'road map' for the area, defining key stakeholders; programs, funding opportunities and project phasing needed to fulfill the goals. By completing the management plan before receiving designation, the Heritage area can continue with key programs and activities that focus on sustaining the area's unique beauty and resources, while ensuring that those programs meet the overall goals defined during the process.
The plan includes an Environmental Assessment, an Interpretation Strategy and an Implementation Plan. Each of these documents will be completed utilizing comments, ideas and data obtained by the local and state government, as well as local businesses, private residents and local organizations during the community participation process.
Community involvement is welcomed and needed throughout this process to be certain the natural, economic, cultural and historic resources of the Heritage area are properly planned for, today and tomorrow.
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