Executive Summary of the Friends of Griffith Woods’ 2007-8

Action Plan for

Tavern and Cultural Area

July 2007

The Friends of Griffith Woods have developed the following action plan to guide them over the next several months and years.  It builds on the past work of the Friends and others, including the Kentucky Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, the University of Kentucky, and the State Nature Preserves Commission.  It is intended to focus the attention of the Friends over the immediate future.

The Friends have four primary goals for Griffith Tavern and the immediate site:

• Preserve the tavern buildings and grounds.
• Have the tavern serve one or more useful purposes.
• Achieve self-sufficiency.
• Create and maintain plant nursery and demonstration/sales operations related to native and historic plants

To achieve these goals, the Friends will be undertaking four strategies. 

First, undertake a series of immediate activities intended to generate awareness, interest, and involvement with the site. 

Second, continue and accelerate rehabilitation of the structure and site.  It is apparent that potential users of the site can not formulate a successful financial model that both makes basic repairs to the structures and also upgrades the structures to meet specific needs and cover operational costs. 

Third, secure a partner or partners to utilize the facilities and provide funding for preparing the buildings and site for their specific purposes.  The partner may be public or private, local or not, an individual or a corporation.  Any user will need to operate within parameters intended to preserve the critical historical integrity of the site and best serve the community.  The Friends in establishing these parameters will focus only on the most critical issues and make every effort to specify ends while leaving the means to the creativity of the user.

Fourth, maintain critical and cooperative working relationships with the Nature Conservancy, the University, and State Nature Preserves.  At the same time, the Friends need to begin laying the groundwork for resolving legal issues including definition of the site and buildings to be included and ownership.

To achieve these goals and implement these strategies, the Friends have developed a detailed listing of specific activities.  They will be initiating these activities immediately and recruiting others to assist. 

The Friends appreciate the difficult and challenging task they face.  They are optimistic but realistic.  Griffith Woods is a special and unique opportunity.