Implement the national heritage area management plan which provides a framework for interpretation, conservation, and development based upon the ideas developed during an extensive community…

Washington Trust For Historic Preservation received a $1.5M Cooperative Agreement awarded August 1, 2025, by the National Park Service (NPS) National Office under the Heritage Partnership Program (CFDA 15.939). The award funds implementation of a National Heritage Area Management Plan that establishes a comprehensive framework for interpretation, conservation, and development of heritage resources. The management plan, developed through extensive community engagement, provides a reference guide for all heritage area-related actions and includes a phasing schedule organizing programmatic and physical interventions. Performance period extends through July 31, 2026.

Under the Heritage Partnership Program, funded activities typically encompass historic preservation work, conservation initiatives, heritage tourism development, interpretation and education programming, community engagement, and administrative functions. In this award, these activities support implementation of the management plan framework across designated heritage areas in the Washington state region, with deliverables potentially including capital improvements, interpretive materials, heritage trails development, volunteer steward training, and technical assistance for partner organizations. The cooperative agreement structure emphasizes shared environmental stewardship and preservation of nationally significant cultural, historical, and natural resources for educational and inspirational benefit of current and future generations.

Implement the national heritage area management plan which provides a framework for interpretation, conservation, and development based upon the ideas developed during an extensive community planning process. This framework constitutes a reference guide for all actions that relate to the heritage area and the heritage resources and present a phasing schedule that organizes a range of programmatic and physical actions.