Charting a Future for National Heritage Areas

Wheeler, Douglas; National Park Service Staff

On August 24, 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation establishing the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, a new kind of National Park Service designation. "Ille corridor encompassed a living landscape of more than 450 square miles with thousands of residents, centered on a mile-long historic canal system. The National Park Service was directed to suppose planning for the area and assist with its management Since this first National Heritage Area was created, 26 additional heritage areas have been established. Today, almost two dozen proposals to create new heritage areas are under active consideration by Congress. National Heritage Areas are places designated by Congress where the natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources are considered uniquely representative of the American experience. More than 500 National Historic Landmarks and over 12,800 National Register of Historic Places listings anchor and give rich definition to these areas. Almost 50 million people across 19 states live in a heritage area. Though they are recognized as nationally important, National Heritage Areas are the management responsibility of the people who live there. The Federal government provides technical and limited financial assistance, but it does not assume ownership of land inside heritage areas or impose land use controls. Partnerships created to administer heritage areas cross political boundaries, coordinating the efforts of large numbers of organizations. These broad collaborative relationships have demonstrated a capacity to leverage significant funding and support for large-scale preservation projects, which require long-term commitments to build an enduring stewardship ethic. The National Park Service recognizes National Heritage Areas as Significant partners in pursuing its stewardship and educational mission, including the identification and protection of nationally significant historic sites. '10 warrant National Park Service involvement. Heritage areas should tell nationally important stories through a regionally distinctive combination of natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources, and they should provide outstanding opportunities for conservation. Where appropriate, they should also strengthen, complement. and support existing units of the National Park System. When a heritage area is adjacent to a national park or a national park is within a heritage area, both parties benefit from the expanded opportunity to interpret and protect resources over a larger landscape. A variety of planning, funding, and management strategies support heritage area development. While existing designations often share similar strategies, no legislative foundation ensures a standard approach to how new areas should be studied, designated, administered, and funded. A formal policy framework is needed to clarify the roles and responsibilities of partners in these efforts. The framework should specify criteria and standards for studying and establishing new areas, uniform time frames, and funding and management strategies to accomplish the work. In this report, the National Park System Advisory Board recommends specific actions to accomplish these ends.