Locals get behind proposal to redesignate New River Gorge National River as NP
A plan to make New River Gorge National River a full-fledged national park is gaining momentum in communities surrounding the 72,808-acre tract of canyons, cliffs, whitewater rapids and wooded plateaus.
In recent weeks, resolutions calling for changing the New River Gorge’s designation from national river to national park — while not changing the way it currently operates — have been approved by city and county governments, tourism agencies and development boards along the 53-mile-long stretch of parkland.