City Grant Helps AFNHA Connect Community to Outdoor Recreation

ELKINS, W.Va. — May 18, 2026 — A new Elkins resident visits the West Virginia Railroad Museum and the Appalachian Forest Discovery Center at the Darden Mill, where he learns about the developments that shaped our community into what it is today.

A family visiting their relatives in Elkins decides our community is the perfect base from which they can explore the several Civil War battlefields that lie within an hour’s drive.

Students at local schools visit the Kump House to hear a talk from an AmeriCorps Volunteer about the importance of pollinator habitats.

What do these moments and experiences have in common? They’re all part of the mission of the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA).

All of these activities, plus countless more across 18 West Virginia counties and two counties in western Maryland, are made possible by AFNHA, the staff of which strives day after day to strengthen relationships between Appalachian residents and the land they call home.

AFNHA is more than its staff, who live and work in the communities they serve. AFNHA is also the name of a nationally designated area recognized for its impact on the diverse heritage that has made the United States what it is today.

Earlier this year, Elkins City Council approved its Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which included $108,000 for community grants. AFNHA, which for the coming year received a $2,500 grant from the City of Elkins, is among the approximately one dozen grant recipients that have received funding to continue their work.

“We are grateful to the City for its long-standing support of AFNHA. These funds will be used to support our AmeriCorps Conservation National Service Member who works in the community to educate citizens on the importance of outdoor recreation,” said AFNHA’s Logan Smith. “This Member supports local community groups and spaces such as the Master Gardeners, Kump Education Center, Glendale Park, the Elkins Tree Board, and Wonder and Grow, among others.”

Since its founding in 2001, AFNHA has grown significantly. In 2019, it received federal designation as a National Heritage Area — a recognition of its impact on U.S. culture.

Visit AFNHA’s website to learn about the various ways this organization showcases its namesake region. Residents and visitors alike can download its Discovery Guide, which showcases what Randolph County and the surrounding area offer, from outdoor recreation ideas to festivals held at various times during the year.