WASHINGTON – Scenic America and EDAW, Inc. announced joint sponsorship of a national conference to accelerate efforts to protect America’s natural beauty and distinctive community character in the early 21st century.

The Scenic Summit: Action for America’s Communities, Countryside, and Public Lands, to be held April 21-24, 2002 in Denver, will draw on leading experts to address how to turn best practices into common practice. Before the conference, a panel of nationally recognized experts, citizen activists, and business representatives will prepare a draft Scenic Action Agenda. At the conference, Scenic Summit participants will debate and revise the Scenic Action Agenda to create a collaborative “living document” to guide scenic conservation efforts in the 21st century.

“America the Beautiful is disappearing,” said Meg Maguire, president of Scenic America. “Sprawling subdivisions, towering billboards, look-alike strip malls and franchises, cluttered signs, unscreened junkyards, invasive power lines, and poorly sited wireless communications towers destroy the intrinsic character of our towns, neighborhoods, and public lands.”

Craig Taggart of EDAW, Inc. underscored that the principal purpose of the conference is to frame an action agenda to guide citizens and professionals as they work closely to build an activist movement to reverse this loss.

“The beginning of a new century offers an opportunity to protect the beauty of America’s landscapes and to set a national agenda for scenic conservation," he said. "We must build on the craft and creativity of past conservationists by actively engaging those with the talent and commitment needed to reclaim the rich scenic heritage that is America the Beautiful."