Fine-arts parkway: a proposal 

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Gilboa - Shean – Yarden

Fine-Arts Parkway (A proposal 2005 ).

A.    Introduction

        Culture Driven Economic Development (CDED) is a concept which promotes cultural projects as a platform for regional or urban development. The idea is to utilize existing infrastructure such as landscape, archeological digs, architecture etc. and turn them into successful attraction by adding certain elements.

The importance of culture, defined in a broad sense to include education and environment among other factors, for economic development has been demonstrated in cities like Birmingham England and Bilbao Spain.

Because the driving force behind the projects is culture, planning always preserve cultural heritage as well as being friendly to the environment.The GSY Fine-Arts Parkway suggest the creation of a parkway which runs through some of the most beautiful scenery in Israel with museums and sculpture gardens dotted along the way.

          In order to protect the environment and landscape private cars will not be allowed through most of the route.                                                                                                 

B.    The Route

        The route starts at the Art Museum in Ein Harod the most important regional art museum in Israel and follows route 717 to Belle Voire  Crusader castle, where a sculpture garden by the artist Igal Tumarkin is already established next to a spectacular view of the Jordan valley.

          At least one visitor center is planned between Ein Harod and Belle Voire.

 From there the road descends to Old Gesher  (the original Kibbutz Gesher yard) where a sculpture garden is planned and the remains of old Mameluki Han are now being excavated.

          From there, along the Israeli-Jordanian border through wild vegetation and the magnificent and awesome Naharaim power station the road takes the traveler to the art museum of Kibbutz Ashdot Yaakov.

The old power station may be used if and when peace is signed between Israel and Syria as a three nation cultural meet and contemporary museum.

Traveling along the route will be allowed only in special vehicles designed for this purpose and tourist buses. There will be stops where people could get off the bus, spend some time in a visitor center and catch a bus later on. In time, arrangements for overnight stay will be developed so visitors may visit a full day en route, spend the night and return to their cars the next morning.