Congress’ actions often leave Americans perplexed, confused, disbelieving or infuriated. Sometimes all of the above at once.
So it’s rewarding to report that Congress recently passed a small program that benefits all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands — and Colorado especially. Congress authorized the Preserve America program, which also preserved 9 million acres of public land as wilderness, including 315,000 acres in Colorado.
Founded in 2003, Preserve America is a modest federal program that enlists locals to preserve and support America’s cultural and natural heritage assets, while enhancing the economic vitality of participating communities. Preserve America is administered by the National Park Service.
Already, 736 communities across the country have received Preserve America community designation. Colorado, with 29 communities, has the fourth most designations, after Kentucky, Texas and New York. Another 923 communities, including seven in Colorado, await designation.
“It’s great for Colorado. It gets people working together who never have before, and helps communities which have not had resources to undertake such projects,” an elated Ann Pritzlaff of Castle Rock said when she called from Washington to announce the passage. A longtime preservation activist, she is on the Advisory Council of Historic Preservation, which initiated the program.
Preserve America is meant to help communities identify what makes them special and unique, and then build upon those assets for economic benefit. You might say it replaces Hollywood’s mythical version of the Old West with the far more complex and interesting Colorado character of people and natural landscape.
It’s particularly fascinating because it’s fueled by civic action of the locals in these communities, and not a hand-down action sired by politicians. It builds on the actions and awareness of citizens who’ve seen local historic preservation become the fuel for heritage tourism. That brings people who want to see the West as it really is, from ranches to mining to skiing and incredible natural beauty, and in turn brings new economic benefits.
Since 2006, more than $20 million has been awarded to 259 projects in 49 states. All grants must be matched with funds from local, non-governmental sources; with that leveraging, more than $40 million was provided.
Colorado has received roughly $1 million for 20 projects, ranging from $20,000 for Lake City to implement a marketing plan, to $147,563 for Fort Collins to collect oral histories of the city and the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area community. The city also will create educational projects of the trail system of northern Colorado’s natural areas for cultural and heritage tourists. Denver researched and published a Denver Story Trek trail map for walking historic neighborhoods.
Pueblo will highlight the city’s roots in the steel industry, with 121 years of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. Montezuma County will promote Mesa Verde, past and present. Silverton will inventory hundreds of historic architectural resources to attract visitors to the old mining town. Prowers County will develop a series of film shorts on its heritage sites, to be shown in regional theaters.
Next challenge is to get Congress to appropriate Preserve America money — $10 million — for the 2010 budget. That’s a paltry amount in the national budget, but it makes a huge difference to communities across America. It works because of the thousands of Americans who give of their time and knowledge to identify and share their communities with others.
Denver Post columnist Joanne Ditmer has been writing on environmental and urban issues for The Post since 1962.
