National Heritage Areas
The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area (SCVNHA) is a non-regulatory designation made by Congress to honor and celebrate the region’s contribution to America’s history, while also stimulating heritage-based economic development and geo-tourism in the region.
The National Park Service describes a National Heritage Area as a place “where natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources combine to form cohesive, nationally distinctive landscapes arising from patterns of past and present human activities shaped by geography.” With its combination of cultures, history, languages, traditions, and landscapes, the Santa Cruz Valley is just that!
National Heritage Areas are different from National Parks and other types of Federal designations because they do not impose Federal zoning or regulations on land use, and do not involve land acquisitions. Because a National Heritage Area is locally initiated and managed, it is a community-based conservation strategy that recognizes that the people who live in a heritage area are uniquely qualified to preserve its resources.
There are currently 62 designated National Heritage Areas across the country.
Arnold and Doris Roland Wall of Pots at the Arizona State Museum.
Benefits to Our Region
Sustainable economic development
NHAs leverage federal funds (NHAs average $4.40 for every $1.00 of federal investment) to create jobs, generate revenue for local governments, and sustain local communities through revitalization and heritage tourism.
Healthy environment and people
Many NHAs improve water and air quality in their regions through habitat restoration projects and encourage people to enjoy natural and cultural sites by providing new or enhanced recreational opportunities.
Improved Quality of Life
By instilling a stronger sense of place and regional identity through community outreach and educational programs, NHAs support an improved quality of life.
Education and Stewardship
NHAs connect communities to natural, historical, and cultural sites through educational activities, which promote awareness and foster interest in and stewardship of heritage resources.
Community Engagement and Pride
NHAs strengthen the sense of place and community pride by engaging community members in heritage education, preservation, and promotion activities.
