There are only five days left to review and weigh in on the Feasibility Study for the North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix National Heritage Area. The document was released at the end of May for a 30-day review and comment period.
The document is available online and at libraries and other locations around the area of Minnesota and Wisconsin united by the St. Croix River and its tributaries.
In a press release when the study was released, Heritage Initiative Task Force chair Marty Harding called the study a “labor of love,” and cited the significant contributions of hundreds of people.
“Our lives have been enriched by this work and our appreciation for this place we call home has immeasurably deepened. We are proud to share it with our neighbors, colleagues and people throughout the region, and excited to hear what they think,” Harding said.
The document is not only a formal review of why and how a National Heritage Area would fit in the St. Croix River region, but also seeks to capture some of the stories that tie the area together, and the places and other resources still accessible today that help tell the stories. It provides an overview of the region’s history, from geologic formations billions of years old to the logging era, European immigrants of the 20th century, and the continued presence of Ojibwe and Dakota people. It’s also full of historic and contemporary photos that bring it all to life.
If approved by the National Park Service and Congress, the National Heritage Area would be the fiftieth in the United States. NHAs are managed locally and do not affect private property use. It would primarily serve as a network for collaboration across traditional boundaries, allowing people and organizations in different cities, counties and states work together on projects to preserve and promote the region’s historic and cultural resources.
View the document online here, or find a printed copy. Comments can be sent via email, web form, and mail. More information is available here.
The Heritage Initiative is a St. Croix 360 partner.
