Future of the river
As one of twelve Pennsylvania Heritage Areas, the Lancaster-York Heritage Region helps identify, preserve, interpret and promote the rich heritage and culture of both York and Lancaster Counties. We exist to support the many local residents, businesses and civic groups that are concerned about our quality of life - protecting farmland, preserving open space and natural areas, revitalizing town centers, diversifying the tourism industry, and connecting younger folks with the history and culture of our ancestors.
As the recent political season made very clear, issues of land preservation, sprawl development and environmental protection are at the center of community debates about the future we desire for our region. How we protect – or not protect – the historic, cultural and natural resources of our region will determine our future and the lives our children and grandchildren will enjoy - or not enjoy.
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Of those community resources, the Susquehanna River is the jewel of them all. God and Mother Nature blessed us with this amazing river, a waterway as rich in history as it is in breathtaking scenery, spectacular wildlife and great recreation. From the earliest Native Peoples, to the American Revolution, to the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution, so much of America can be traced to this river, and to the natural wonders that flow from its banks in all directions.
Rather than acting as a barrier, the river is what unites us. It’s the place we can rally around as a regional asset to be protected and celebrated. It’s the place we can share with visitors, bringing economic benefits to our region from heritage and outdoor tourism.
That’s why citizens and local governments and community organizations like ours are working to preserve and showcase the best our river has to offer. These efforts include:
▪ A River Towns plan to revitalize the historic communities of Wrightsville, Marietta and Columbia.
▪ Restoration of historic lights on the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge as a symbol of our shared heritage.
▪ The Susquehanna Greenway to help protect, enhance and link open space and communities along the river throughout Pennsylvania.
▪ The Susquehanna River Water Trail to encourage kayaking and canoeing along the river.
▪ Permanent preservation of utility-owned lands to protect river-related recreation that many of us take for granted.
▪ The Susquehanna Heritage Park and Education Center to save and showcase key parts of the scenic landscape south of Wrightsville, most of which will otherwise be lost to costly sprawl development.
All of these initiatives will work together to preserve and enhance what’s special about our river lands. They will showcase the river’s rich heritage and help create the economic vitality that comes from sharing an amazing resource like the river with residents and visitors alike.
And frankly, we’re just in time. The pressures of unprecedented growth and development are rapidly moving towards the river. We’re now at the point of deciding just how important this beautiful and historic river landscape is to us. It’s a critical crossroads for our community.
Elections come and go, but the decisions we make today will chart the future of the river and the river lands for generations to come. So we have to ask ourselves: will our generation be the one that lost this special place, or will we be the ones who protected it for the future? It’s really up to us.
To learn more about regional efforts to save our river, please visit www.StoriesoftheLand.com.
Mark N. Platts is president of the Lancaster-York Heritage Region.
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