ROMULUS, N.Y. — New York state’s Finger Lakes region would be designated as a National Heritage Area under a proposal that U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) recently announced. Gillibrand on Aug. 14 visited Buttonwood Grove Winery in Romulus to push the proposal in a news conference. National Heritage Areas (NHA) are established by Congress to […]
ROMULUS, N.Y. — New York state’s Finger Lakes region would be designated as a National Heritage Area under a proposal that U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) recently announced.
Gillibrand on Aug. 14 visited Buttonwood Grove Winery in Romulus to push the proposal in a news conference.
National Heritage Areas (NHA) are established by Congress to recognize a region’s “natural, cultural, or historic significance,” Gillibrand’s office said. Securing this designation for the Finger Lakes would promote tourism and help ensure that the area is “preserved for generations to come.”
“The Finger Lakes are a national treasure,” Gillibrand said in her announcement. “They are home to a beautiful landscape, rich history, and thriving small businesses. In recognition of all this area has to offer, I’m leading the push to designate the region as an NHA. This designation will promote tourism, create jobs, and make sure local communities have what they need to thrive for years to come. I am committed to getting this bill signed into law.”
The process for labeling a region as a National Heritage Area usually involves two steps. First, Congress passes a bill directing the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a feasibility study, which determines whether the area is suitable for being defined as an NHA.
If the results of the feasibility study are positive, Congress then must pass a second bill to formally designate the region.
Gillibrand’s office says the lawmaker has been “leading the push” to entitle the Finger Lakes as an NHA in line with the two-step process.
In 2015, she first announced the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Study Act to direct NPS to conduct a feasibility study, and in 2019, it was signed into law. The National Park Service completed its feasibility study and confirmed the Finger Lakes’ eligibility earlier this year.
Now, the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Act would complete the second step in the process and formally create the Finger Lakes NHA.
“The core motivation to seek a National Heritage Area designation for the Finger Lakes was a simple one: to do tourism more responsibly and to honor the reasons our region is a landmark worthy of sharing with the world. Our industry stands on the shoulders of the Haudenosaunee, the suffragists, the abolitionists and innovators that uniquely make up the story of America,” Meghan Lawton, president & CEO of the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, said in a statement. “Introduction of this legislation is an important milestone, but our work continues hand-in-hand with Senator Gillibrand’s office, the NY Congressional Delegation and the support of our county-level and industry partners. We thank Senator Gillibrand and all our partners across the region for their support and assistance in getting the Finger Lakes region one step closer to this designation.”
The following 14 New York counties would comprise the Finger Lakes NHA: Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates.
“Establishing the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area will highlight our region’s assets and natural beauty,” Dave and Melissa Pittard, Buttonwood Grove Winery co-owners and Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance members, said. “Tourism is an essential component of the Finger Lakes economy, and the NHA will support that and help promote our communities and businesses. [We] appreciate Senator Gillibrand’s commitment to this issue, and look forward to seeing the NHA established.”