Historic preservation plan hinges on public interest

(The Center Square) – There’s a new vision for preserving historical sites across Pennsylvania.

And it depends upon renewed public interest.

The 10-year plan, developed by the state’s historic preservation office, serves as a guide to local governments and organizations to approach the process with care while accommodating specific community challenges.

“Benjamin Franklin’s words, ‘well done is better than well said,’ can serve as inspiration to us all to act upon the goals of Pennsylvania’s new plan,” wrote Andrea McDonald, director of the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Office, in the agency’s blog.

Much of the agency’s task is to inform and encourage local municipalities to embrace historic preservation. The National Park Service maintains the registry of historic landmarks, but that represents just a small fraction of historic sites across the state. If and how they are protected ultimately comes down to local decision-making.

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As a result, the plan centers on creating community connections to historic places. The first goal is to reduce both “real and perceived” barriers to historic preservation. Increasing access to funding and education and strengthening networks are key parts of that process.

The second goal of the plan aims for a future in which “historic preservation and historic places are valued as integral to community identity, sense of place, economic development, and sustainable growth in Pennsylvania communities.”

Changing thinking about historic preservation can be a heavy lift, especially when mandates can seem burdensome and public interest is low. Historic areas are often seen as roadblocks to economic progress rather than opportunities for community building. The new plan encourages a balance of development and preservation with an emphasis on stewardship.

Historical societies often lead the charge to preserve sites at the local level and are largely dependent on donations and volunteers. The American Historical Association notes that traditionally, preservation was driven by a desire to document the personal legacies and achievements of an elite few. This focus has lost interest from many communities with shifting demographics, and new perspectives may be necessary to galvanize a new generation of donors and volunteers.

Educational outreach about archaeological and historic sites and their preservation is a key component. The plan breaks down survey responses and demographic data into nine geographic regions across the state, which collectively determined that guides for research and for accessing state and federal programs would be the most useful tools for preservation.

Statewide, poll respondents said that burial places and archaeological sites were their highest preservation priorities. Respondents listed development, vacancy or deferred maintenance, and lack of interest as the greatest threats to preservation.

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“Historic preservation efforts are most successful when Pennsylvanians are connected, understand shared histories, and work together across backgrounds and disciplines to achieve positive preservation outcomes,” wrote McDonald.

Perhaps one of the largest displays of the state’s preservation accomplishments will fall within the ten-year scope of the plan. Philadelphia is preparing to host visitors from across the world for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the nation. Philadelphia is home to 67 of the state’s 169 National Historic Landmarks.

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