O’Hara speaker at National Scenic Byways event

Sallie O’Hara, Administrator of the Friends of A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway, reported to Historic City News that she was recently a guest speaker at the National Scenic Byways Conference in Denver.

O’Hara shared her experience in the formation of a 501(c) 3 organization, taking three loose volunteer coalitions to form one non-profit, implementing and tracking protection and enhancements for the A1A National Scenic Byway.

The three groups — Ocean Shore Scenic A1A, A1A River to Sea Trail PRIDE and Scenic and Historic A1A — united in 2004 to become a non-profit as the Friends of A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway. The maturing organization now has several satellite offices and core staff support for its many citizen volunteers.

The Friends of A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway protects, preserves, and enhances resources along the A1A National Scenic Byway. This citizen’s advocacy group partners with municipalities, governmental agencies and other civic groups to maintain and improve resources along the corridor.

Designated in 2002, the A1A Coastal Byway consists 72 miles along St. Johns and Flagler counties Atlantic Ocean. The Byway is rich in history, nature, archeology, culture, scenery and recreation.

The Friends of A1A benefit residents and travelers by protecting, preserving, enhancing and maintaining the identified intrinsic resources while allowing economic development.