Senator Bob Casey (right) and Congressman Lloyd Smucker listen to remarks at today's Susquehanna National Heritage Area celebration at Columbia Crossing.
About 100 people, including Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Lloyd Smucker, gathered on the deck of Columbia Crossing this morning to celebrate the designation of Lancaster and York Counties as the Susquehanna National Heritage Area. Casey and Smucker had pushed for the National Heritage Area designation for the two counties. The roughly hour-long presentation included remarks by Casey and Smucker as well as Susquehanna National Heritage Area President Mark Platts, who led the meeting.
The national designation, signed March 12 of this year by President Trump, is expected to stimulate economic development by enticing tourists and businesses to the area. The Susquehanna River was a key factor in the decision. Funding will come from the federal government in the form of matching grants. The designation now brings the total of National Heritage Areas to 55.
Susquehanna National Heritage Area President Mark Platts leads the meeting.
Crowd on deck at Columbia Crossing
Senator Casey addresses the crowd.
Congressman Smucker offers remarks.
Peter Samuel, National Heritage Area Program Manager
Northeast Region, National Park Service
Cindy Dunn, Secretary, PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Josh Parsons, Lancaster County Commission Chair
Susan Byrnes, York County Commission President
Kevin Schreiber hugs Tom Baldrige.
Schreiber is President and CEO of the York County Economic Alliance, and Baldrige is President of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Boat transportation to Columbia from the Zimmerman Center
Susquehanna Heritage 2018 Annual Report & Strategic Plan
2018 By the Numbers
2019-2021 Strategic Plan
2018 Revenue & Expenses
Smucker and Casey are two of the least desirable people to attend, in my opinion. But they (unfortunately) are our men in Washington.
ReplyDeleteSo SH spends $29 for every visitor to their two sites. It would be cheaper and more effective to shut it down and pay folks to visit. And remember, the $29 per visitor only reflects operating cost and not the initial capital investment.
ReplyDeleteThe river shuttle may be the best idea so far but it would more popular running between Marietta and Wrightsville where you can get meal and a drink without having to walk a quarter mile and search for them. Columbia should need to think seriously about this before they spend eight million dollars on an even more remote river park.
/2 - al dodson