National Heritage Areas: Understanding and Evaluating

Practices and Process

Heritage CanadaOctober 4, 2014Brenda Barrett

National Heritage Areas

“...National Heritage Areas are places where natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources combine to form a

cohesive, nationally important landscape arising from patterns of

human activity shaped by geography.”

National Heritage Areas

Working Places MISSISSIPPI GULF NHA WHEELING NHA

Living LandscapesATCHAFALAYA NHA

NORTHERN RIO GRAND NHA

Engaging New AudiencesMISSISSIPPI DELTA NHA GREAT BASIN NHA

New Role for the U.S. National Park Service

Natural Resource Conservation Historic Preservation Recreation

But also: Land Use Regional Planning Economic Development

Need for an Evaluative Framework

Revolutionary approach

Limited authorization

Support for continued funding

Challenge of regional support

Growth of the program

Assess the Progress of Established NHAs

In accomplishing their legislative purpose

Achieving the goals and objectives of their approved management plan

Analyzing the financial investments of Federal, State,

Tribal, and local government and private Entities to determine the impact

Reviewing the management structure, partnership relationships, and funding

Reflecting on the past, looking to the future: Sustainability Study Report John H. Chaffee

Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (2005)

Connecting stories, landscapes, and people: Exploring the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage

Corridor Sustainability Study Report (2006)

Shared legacies in Cane River National Heritage Area: Linking people, traditions, and culture (2008)

Positive Overall Findings for the twelve National Heritage Areas (2010-2012)

Met the goals identified in the NHA’s authorizing legislation and management plan.

Cultural and Natural Resource Conservation

Education and Interpretation

Also Recreational Development, Marketing and Economic Development primarily through heritage tourism.

Leveraged NPS Heritage Area Funding with other Federal, state, local and private sources

• exceeded the 50 percent required match,

• used the NPS funds responsibly to meet program goals,

• completed required audits

• leveraged additional funds for heritage infrastructure at a ratio of 4-to-1.

Employed a sustainable management structure, partnerships, and current funding stream• engaged public,

• showed effective board governance structure,

• had experienced leadership and staff

• responsible fiscal management.

Preserve Nationally Significant Resources

Offer Educational and Interpretive Opportunities

Recreational Development

Partnership Accomplishments Cultural and natural resource

conservation

Education and interpretation

Recreational development

Marketing and promotion

Community and economic development

Conclusions

All the evaluations tracked accomplishments, governance, financial investments and sustainability.

The eight Westat evaluations triangulated both qualitative and quantitative data

All twelve evaluations documented impressive accomplishments in a limited time frame and over very large geographic areas.

Evaluation Recommendations

Increase quality and quantity of data collection

Enhance the fundraising skills and awareness of NHA boards and commissions

Foster a closer working relationship with the NPS

Address succession planning in the leadership of NHA

Future of the National Park Service

CANE RIVER CREOLE NHS SALEM MARITIME NHS

Working at a Landscape ScaleSHENANDOAH VALLEY NHA KENAI PENINSULA NHA

Lessons Learned The story is the vision

Public engagement

Importance of the Management Planning

There is value in designation

National Park Service Evaluations Find National

Heritage Areas are achieving their Purpose and

Accomplishing their Goals

http://www.nationalheritageareas.us