Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0305-1195

Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MLA

College

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Department

Landscape Architecture

Committee Chair

Peter Butler

Committee Co-Chair

Vaike Haas

Committee Member

Nicole Kreidler

Abstract

Post-industrial communities across Appalachia continue to experience economic and environmental challenges following the decline of coal mining and related industries. Towns such as Smithers and Montgomery, West Virginia, reflect these conditions through economic stagnation, population loss, aging infrastructure, and degraded landscapes, creating an urgent need for sustainable redevelopment strategies.

The Appalachian Regional Commission emphasizes economic diversification, infrastructure investment, and community revitalization as critical components for improving regional quality of life. However, many former mining communities continue to struggle with underutilized heritage assets, degraded landscapes, and limited economic alternatives. Cultural landscapes and local identity remain significant but often overlooked resources that can support redevelopment through heritage tourism, adaptive reuse, and community-centered public space improvements.

This study examines how resilience-based planning approaches can support economic regeneration in post-mining Appalachian towns, focusing on improvements in community infrastructure and the development of cultural tourism. By analyzing local socio-economic conditions and recreational opportunities, the research explores opportunities for adaptive reuse, public space enhancement, and outdoor recreational initiatives that can stimulate local economic activity and strengthen community identity.

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