Jesse Mestrovic, director of parks and strategic planning for the City of Wheeling, will participate in the National Road Bicentennial Symposium slated for Saturday, Oct. 27, at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa.
Mestrovic will be a panelist in a session titled Telling the National Road Story: A Roundtable on Interpretation and Heritage Tourism. The discussion will touch on topics such as the importance of heritage tourism in communities, activities and events offered related to the National Road and partnerships with other entities to promote National Road, to name just a few.
“With aspirations to develop the Gateway Park near the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, a national historic landmark, this is a great forum to present ideas and opportunities to citizens and professionals who have a vested interest in the interpretation of our National Road,” Mestrovic said. “Tourism and parks go hand-in-hand.”
Mestrovic noted the 200th anniversary of the National Road will be in conjunction with the kickoff of Wheeling’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Born and raised in Wheeling, Mestrovic is a graduate of Wheeling Park High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in recreation, parks and tourism resources from West Virginia University. He also studied abroad with the WVU Exchange Program in Vienna, Austria. After graduate school, he worked at Stonewall Resort State Park as a park naturalist before being promoted to superintendent I at Tomlinson Run State Park. Mestrovic then accepted a position with Seneca Lake Park. Before coming to Wheeling, Mestrovic served as the first executive director of the Greater Moundsville Convention & Visitors Bureau promoting Marshall County’s attractions, events and activities. Mestrovic is an avid outdoorsman, kayaker, runner, biker — pedal and motor — and Dalmatian Dad who loves connecting people to the outdoors.