Midstate counties closer to achieving national designation

(Harrisburg) — Two midstate counties are one step closer to achieving a national heritage designation.

A measure in Congress to make the classification recently received committee approval, and supporters see it as a positive move after a decade of work.

A 2008 study found the Susquehanna Heritage Area tells a story of national significance. The area focuses on the Susquehanna River, and includes all of Lancaster and York counties.

It’s significant because of the waterway’s role in the early frontier, Lancaster County’s Plain community, and Revolutionary War history in York, as well as the area’s place in the Civil War. 

“I think those of us that grew up here, live here, work here, play here know that this place is nationally significant, we just want the rest of the country to know that now too, and invite them to come here, spend money and stay longer,” said Mark Platts, president of Susquehanna Heritage, which operates visitors centers and runs programs in the heritage area.

Platts said the designation would create a stronger partnership with the National Park Service and provide matching federal funding.

“Then we would see more and a broader range of those kinds of things happening: more school field trips, more exhibits, more improvements to visitor facilities,” he said. 

Platts added it could be enough to make tourists spend one more day in the area, with the potential to draw an additional $100 million each year.

But the designation takes an act of Congress, and proposals introduced over the years by Pennsylvania’s Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey have never passed the full Senate.

Recently, a measure sponsored by Republican U.S. Representative Lloyd Smucker of Lancaster County received committee approval, which Platts said is a positive step. It’s the first time a bill to create a national designation for the Susquehanna Heritage Area has reached the House floor.