What
is a National Heritage Area?
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A
"national heritage area" is a place designated by the United
States Congress where natural, cultural, historic and recreational
resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally-distinctive landscape
arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography. These
areas tell nationally important stories about our nation and are representative
of the national experience through both the physical features that
remain and the traditions that have evolved within them.
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How Do National
Heritage Areas Work?
National Heritage
Areas (NHA) expand on traditional approaches to resource stewardship
by supporting large-scale, community centered initiatives that connect
local citizens to the preservation and planning process. Inaugurated
in 1984, with the designation of the Illinois & Michigan Canal
National Heritage Corridor, the National Heritage Areas movement
now encompasses 40 areas, ranging from factory towns and city neighborhoods
to farmland and battlefields. By embracing large landscapes, National
Heritage Areas have the ability to join together diverse practices
such as education, recreation, heritage tourism and historic preservation.
Committed to both protecting and promoting the historic, cultural
and natural assets of a region, National Heritage Areas play a vital
role in maintaining both the physical character and cultural legacy
of the United States.
In National
Heritage Areas, residents, businesses, governments and non-profit
organizations collaborate to promote conservation, community revitalization
and economic development projects. Through the facilitation of a
local coordinating entity, such as a private non-profit corporation
or a public commission, residents come together to improve regional
quality of life through the protection of shared cultural and natural
resources.
This cooperative
approach allows National Heritage Areas to achieve both conservation
and economic growth in ways that do not compromise local land use
controls. Designation legislation does not provide the coordinating
entity or any Federal agency authority to regulate land. Long-term
National Heritage Area success depends upon the willing support
and activities of partner organizations and residents, who collaborate
from the very beginning to develop and implement an area's mission
and goals. Participation in projects and programs is always voluntary
with zoning and land-use decisions remaining under the jurisdiction
of local governments. In addition, the coordinating entity is also
prohibited from using the Federal funds it receives through enabling
legislation to acquire real property.
What is the
Role of the National Park Service?
The National
Park Service (NPS) provides technical, planning and limited financial
assistance to National Heritage Areas. The NPS is a partner and
advisor, leaving decision-making authority in the hands of local
people and organizations. This partnership allows the NPS to further
its core mission of natural and historic resource protection. Additionally,
while a National Heritage Area designation is permanent, the role
of the NPS can vary over time in response to the needs of the region
and its residents.
How is it
different from a National Park?
A National Heritage
Area is not a unit of the National Park Service, nor is any land
owned or managed by the NPS. National Park Service involvement is
always advisory in nature; NPS neither makes nor carries out management
decisions. After a heritage area is designated by Congress, NPS
staff partner with local community members to plan and implement
activities that emphasize heritage-centered interpretation, conservation
and development projects.
How does
a Region Become a National Heritage Area?
National Heritage
Areas are designated by Congress. Each National Heritage Area is
governed by separate authorizing legislation and operates under
provisions unique to its resources and desired goals. For an area
to be considered for designation, certain key elements must be present.
First and foremost, the landscape must have nationally distinctive
natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources that, when linked
together, tell a unique story about our country. A strong base of
local, grassroots support is also essential, with the visible involvement
and commitment of key constituencies such as residents, government,
community groups, non-profits and businesses. A feasibility study,
conducted with extensive public involvement, is also strongly recommended.
This document defines the region's story, identifies significant
assets, and shows local support for the initiative. Interested communities
can review the National Park Service's draft feasibility study guidelines
or contact a National Park Service office in their region of the
country.
Newly designated
National Heritage Areas have three years to develop a management
plan, which, upon completion, must be approved by the Secretary
of the Interior. The plan defines the mission, vision and goals
of the National Heritage Area and outlines the strategies that the
coordinating entity, partners and residents will use to achieve
these objectives. Implementation of the plan rests in the hands
of local citizens, officials, organizations and businesses - not
the Federal government.
How do communities
benefit from the National Heritage Area designation?
The designation has both tangible and intangible benefits. Heritage
conservation efforts are grounded in a community's pride in its
history and traditions, and in residents' interest and involvement
in retaining and interpreting the landscape for future generations.
Preserving the integrity of the cultural landscape and local stories
means that future generations will be able to understand their relationship
to the land. Heritage areas provide educational and inspirational
opportunities, which encourage residents and visitors to stay in
a place, but they also offer a collaborative approach to conservation
that does not compromise traditional local control over and use
of the landscape.
In addition
to enhancing local pride and retaining residents, designation comes
with limited technical and financial assistance from the National
Park Service. NPS primarily provides planning and interpretation
assistance and expertise, but also connects regions with other Federal
agencies. Federal financial assistance provides valuable "seed"
money that covers basic expenses such as staffing, and leverages
other money from state, local and private sources. The region also
benefits from national recognition due to its association with the
National Park Service through the use of the NPS arrowhead symbol
as a branding strategy.
Why utilize
the heritage areas strategy?
The heritage area concept offers an innovative method for citizens,
in partnership with local, state, and Federal government, and nonprofit
and private sector interests, to shape the long-term future of their
communities. The partnership approach creates the opportunity for
a diverse range of constituents to come together to voice a range
of visions and perspectives.Heritage Areas work across boundaries
by identifying cultural landscapes that are linked thematically,
historically, or geographically. Residents collaborate to shape
a plan and implement a strategy that focuses on the distinct qualities
that make their region special.
What kinds
of activities does a National Heritage Area offer to outside visitors?
National Heritage Areas offer recreational activities and cultural
events for all ages and interests. There are opportunities for walking,
hiking, biking and paddling; there are festivals to attend and museums
to visit. Stroll through a historic downtown or visit a wildlife
reserve - there is always something to do or to see, the whole year-round.
Many Areas provide volunteer opportunities, group tours, and multiple-day
excursions and can also be visited in combination with over 80 units
of the National Park Service.
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