April 4, 2024 |
Photo – Proposed heritage area map – Courtesy Hass & Lovejoy
Work is moving forward on the Pathways National Heritage Area.
In 2023, Dr. Glenn Haas and Vernon Lovejoy, of Hass and Lovejoy Protected Area Advisors, began the process of developing a national heritage area in Carbon and Natrona Counties.
Speaking to Bigfoot99, Dr. Haas said a national heritage area will strengthen tourism by bringing national recognition to the historic trails in our area.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed the National Heritage Act into law, creating what he referred to as a “new kind of national park.” Congress assigned the administration of the National Heritage Area program to the National Park Service.
Dr. Haas said the proposed national heritage area, called Pathways, will simply put Carbon and Natrona Counties on a federally managed list of historic locations and will not infringe on private property rights.
On March 30th, the first draft of the Pathways National Heritage Area feasibility study was completed.
The Pathways National Heritage Area will encompass the 15 historic migration routes that run through south-central Wyoming. Dr. Haas said wagon trains and railroads were major factors in the westward expansion of the United States.
The first draft of the Pathways National Heritage Area feasibility study focuses on nine of the most historically important trails in Carbon and Natrona Counties. Included on the list are Overland Trail, the Pony Express Trail, and the North Platte River. The feasibility study states, “Collectively, the nine historic trails included in the proposed PNHA provide a significant chapter of American expansion.”
Vernon Lovejoy and Dr. Haas presented their proposal for the national heritage area to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners in March of 2023. The board expressed their approval of the plan. However, Dr. Haas said the Natrona County Commissioners did not agree to meet with him until this past February. Dr. Haas said it took the combined efforts of Carbon Count Commissioner Travis Moore, Discover Carbon County CEO Leslie Jefferson, and Hanna Mayor Jon Ostling to sway the Natrona County Commissioners.
Dr. Haas is asking people to visit the Pathways National Heritage Area website at PathwaysNHA.com and cast their vote for or against the project. The website offers Carbon County residents a convenient way to learn more about the proposed historic area, said Dr. Haas.
Of the 215 people that have taken the online survey, Dr. Haas said 97% of them supported the creation of a national heritage area. The 3% of people who oppose the project seem to misunderstand the type of people a national heritage area will attract, said Dr. Haas.
Creating the national heritage area will require cooperation between Carbon and Natrona Counties. Dr. Haas said a collaboration between Discover Carbon County and Visit Casper tourism councils will be the most likely way the Pathways National Heritage Area will be managed.
Dr. Haas said the Pathways National Heritage Area feasibility study is only 30% complete. He said the next update will be on June 1st.
The feasibility study should be finished and ready to be presented to the National Parks Service by September. Afterwards, the federal agency will make a recommendation to Congress on the fate of the Pathways National Heritage Area.
