Mary Means, Mary Means Associates

What is meant by “heritage development?” A way of planning, thinking and approaching communities and regions.

More than traditional planning or economic development, it is asset-based community development.The word “development” associated with “heritage” implies an active, rather than passive, role for heritage assets. And, the assets can be grouped in two categories: those that are place-based or physical — such as main streets, neighborhoods, small towns and infrastructure — roads, rivers, or other linkages; and those assets that are socio-culturally based living traditions, cultural practices, arts and music.

Heritage development components include economic revitalization, growth management, recreation, cultural conservation, storytelling, and celebrating.

As an approach, heritage development crosses boundaries. Sometimes the boundaries are geographic, for the common heritage of a region often reaches beyond jurisdictional lines. Almost always, heritage development initiatives involve a melding of two or more arenas of community activity, such as transportation and recreation, or economic development and the preservation of historic buildings. Thanks to a booming interest in heritage tourism, many heritage development initiatives also involve investment in enhanced visitor attractions, providing quality of life benefit and increased community pride among local residents as well as visitors.

In the United States, examples of heritage development range from large regional projects like Pennsylvania’s Delaware & Lehigh Canal National Heritage Corridor (140 miles long, five counties, scores of local jurisdictions, museums, heritage and recreation groups participating), to geographically more concentrated efforts like the city of Lowell, Massachusetts, considered the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution.

(back to the top)

Several states have active heritage area programs and provide matching funds for planning and early implementation efforts. These include New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and South Carolina.On top of these, there now nearly 20 regional efforts that have achieved federal designation as National Heritage Areas or National Heritage Corridors. In the nationally-recognized areas, federal funds are also available to stimulate planning, implementation and management.

(back to the top)