Broadening Preservation’s Reach: Iowa’s Comprehensive Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, 2013-2022

From introduction: "While a statewide historic preservation plan is just that—a statewide plan, i.e., a plan that speaks to the resources throughout Iowa–the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is charged with managing the planning process. When Iowa’s previous preservation plan, Resources Within Reach, was published in 2007, the intent was to update the plan by 2010. That proposed planning cycle was disrupted by several challenges most prominently, disaster recovery tasks. Floods, droughts, snowstorms, hailstorms, tornadoes and derachos have befallen Iowa since 2007; in fact, between spring 2007 and fall 2011, Iowa has withstood 14 federally-declared disasters. Every Iowa county was included in at least one disaster declaration at some point between 2007 and 2011; 93 of Iowa’s 99 counties had two or more disasters during that time frame (Toye, personal communication). The work to repair a community after a natural disaster often involves an influx of federal and/or state assistance into the community. Concomitant with some forms of governmental assistance comes the requirement for review and consultation regarding historic properties. Many SHPO staff members spent time assisting Iowans during numerous natural disasters by providing technical assistance and consultation on historic properties. Those tasks were of immediacy and took precedence over longer-term planning tasks. During fall 2011, the State Historic Preservation Office again turned its attention to updating the preservation plan, working with the National Park Service (NPS) to develop a detailed schedule of planning activities. The agreed-upon schedule called for the SHPO to convene a Statewide Historic Preservation Plan Advisory Committee beginning in January 2012. Over the ensuing year the Advisory Committee, a facilitator, and SHPO staff representatives were to evaluate progress toward the previous plan’s goals; examine challenges and opportunities; and seek participation from the public as an updated plan was crafted. The schedule called for a draft plan to be disseminated broadly for comment by April 2013." Funding was provided in part by a 2013 Historic Preservation Fund grant administered by the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office (project number IA-13-029, grant number P13AF00031) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Broadening Preservation’s Reach: Iowa’s Comprehensive Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, 2013-2022

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