Options for designation

Linda Neal: The National Park Service.

Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to talk with you today. James Pepper, my colleague at the National Park Service, was supposed to be here today to speak to you. But as you’ve already heard, his plane was delayed, and I’ve been asked to fill in for him.

This is a really incredible turnout here today and thanks go to Kevin and all of the other volunteers who have pitched in to make this event possible. I truly hope that all of you who have taken the time to come and participate – elected officials and citizens, alike – have gotten as much out of it as we have as speakers. I sincerely hope, also, that it paves the way for good decisions about Buffalo’s waterfront and other related initiatives.

First of all, I couldn’t agree more with what’s been said here today about the historical significance of the Erie Canal and the site of the Commercial Slip. You have a priceless historical resource in your community and a compelling story to tell.

Likewise, I agree with everything that’s already been said about the importance of collaborative partnerships in the process of making the most of what you have. The only way you can fully protect what you have and maximize its value is to work together, across public and private sectors, across jurisdictional boundaries, and otherwise.

In 1995 the U.S. Congress directed the National Park Service to determine whether the Erie Canal system merited federal recognition as a National Heritage Corridor. The result was a study by the Park Service entitled, “The Erie Canalway: A Special Resource Study of the New York State Canal System.” It came out in 1998 and it found that the Erie Canal met all of the criteria for federal designation.

The study recommended three alternatives for the designation and management of the Canal system. The first was for federal designation as the “Erie Canalway” to be an affiliated area of the national park system and to have a permanent relationship with the National Park Service.

The second recommended alternative for the canal would be a federal designation as a National Heritage Corridor. This would provide limited National Park Service assistance to the corridor entity for a period of ten years. The management entity, itself, would include broad, community-based representation.

There’s also the possibility for no additional designation. This would involve retention of the existing New York State Canal Recreationway designation, which would allow some limited authority for National Park Service assistance. In this scenario, the New York State Canal Corp. and the Recreationway Commission would be responsible for implementing the New York State Canal Recreationway Plan.

In all three of these alternatives, the New York State Canal Corporation would continue to own and operate the canal system.

National Heritage Corridors are clearly an appealing option. It is important to remember, however, that the corridors operate through public-private partnerships. They require solid bi-partisan support to ensure their long-term success and sustainability.

In March 2000 the National Park Service drafted, at the request of Rep. James T. Walsh, Congressman from Central New York, legislation that would establish the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. The bill is still in draft form at this point.

You can get a copy of the National Park Service “Special Resource Study” on the Erie Canalway by contacting the National Park Service, Boston Support Office, Planning and Legislation, 15 State Street, Boston, MA 02109, or by calling 617-223-5051. A four page executive summary of the report is also available.

Thank you very much.

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