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Our area has a rich industrial past, from mills and mining to an extensive system of railroad tracks.
Much has changed about the region during the last nearly 200 years, which brings up the interesting concept of how we can repurpose some of those areas while ensuring that their heritage will live on for future generations to appreciate.
Rick Darke is among those people who are working to accomplish that at several sites, and he'll be sharing a look at work he has done while offering a glimpse of what we can do in our region Thursday at Indian Creek High School.
Presented by the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, Darke's 7 p.m. discussion will show how he celebrates the strength and resilience of America's living landscapes.
During his career, Darke, the self-described landscape ethicist, author and photographer, has developed and is a proponent of a philosophy centered on how landscapes can thrive and coexist in a modern world where the industrial past and industrial heritage of an area can be embraced, rather than erased.
A portion of his presentation will look at projects he already has worked on. Another part will be centered on his vision for the 575 acres of Jefferson County land controlled by the soil and water district. He has been working in parts of that land during the past few days and will incorporate photos and images from those areas into his talk.
That property includes the area around Piney Fork, which has a long mining history, as well as the Quaker Ridge Arboretum and Nature Trails and the hellbender preserve.
Officials with soil and water are looking to begin their work in the Piney Fork area, and develop a five-mile trial that will include turning the old rail yard into a park setting. All of the planned projects will open new areas up to be explored while celebrating the beauty of nature.
Darke's work is aimed toward preserving the unique history of the Appalachian region and creating a serene place for people to enjoy recreation opportunities, relax and rejuvenate while joining one another in a common area.
There are examples of his accomplishments not too far from Steubenville -- the ground around Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands, for example, as well as land that surrounds the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark in the Pittsburgh suburb of Swissvale, part of the Rivers of Steel project.
There's no charge to attend the presentation, and doors will open at 6 p.m.
Thanks to the efforts of Aaron Dodds, project manager, and others involved with the soil and water district, there's a vision about how portions of our area can be transformed. Darke's presentation will offer insights about what is being done and what more needs to be done to make that happen.
It's an evening we hope area residents will be a part of.