I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3257

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine 

the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Western Reserve Heritage Area. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 7, 2003

Mr. RYAN of Ohio introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Resources 

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 

study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Western Reserve Heritage Area.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Western Reserve Her5 itage Areas Study Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING THE 

7 WESTERN RESERVE, OHIO. 

8 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
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1 (1) The area that encompasses the modern-day 

2 counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Por3 tage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, 

4 Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and Ashland in Ohio 

5 with the rich history in what was once the Western 

6 Reserve, has made a unique contribution to the cul7 tural, political and industrial development of the 

8 United States. 

9 (2) The Western Reserve is distinctive as the 

10 land settled by the people of Connecticut after the 

11 Revolutionary War. The Western Reserve holds a 

12 unique mark as the original wilderness land of the 

13 West that many settlers migrated to in order to 

14 begin life outside of the original 13 colonies. 

15 (3) The Western Reserve played a significant 

16 role in providing land to the people of Connecticut 

17 whose property and land was destroyed during the 

18 Revolution. These settlers were descendants of the 

19 brave immigrants who came to the Americas in the 

20 17th century. 

21 (4) The Western Reserve offered a new destina22 tion for those who moved west in search of land and 

23 prosperity. The agricultural and industrial base that 

24 began in the Western Reserve still lives strong in 

25 these prosperous and historical counties. 
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1 (5) The heritage of the Western Reserve re2 mains transfixed in the counties of Trumbull, 

3 Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuya4 hoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ot5 tawa, and Ashland in Ohio. The people of these 

6 counties are proud of their heritage as shown 

7 through the unwavering attempts to preserve agri8 cultural land and the industrial foundation that has 

9 been embedded in this region since the establishment 

10 of the Western Reserve. Throughout these counties, 

11 historical sites, and markers preserve the unique tra12 ditions and customs of its original heritage. 

13 (6) The counties that encompass the Western 

14 Reserve continue to maintain a strong connection to 

15 its historic past as seen through its preservation of 

16 its local heritage, including historic homes, buildings, 

17 and centers of public gatherings. 

18 (7) There is a need for assistance for the pres19 ervation and promotion of the significance of the 

20 Western Reserve as the natural, historic and cul21 tural heritage of the counties of Trumbull, 

22 Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuya23 hoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa 

24 and Ashland in Ohio. 
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1 (8) The Department of the Interior is respon2 sible for protecting the Nation’s cultural and histor3 ical resources. There are significant examples of 

4 such resources within these counties and what was 

5 once The Western Reserve to merit the involvement 

6 of the Federal Government in the development of 

7 programs and projects, in cooperation with the State 

8 of Ohio and other local governmental entities, to 

9 adequately conserve, protect, and interpret this her10 itage for future generations, while providing oppor11 tunities for education and revitalization. 

12 (b) STUDY.—

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in con14 sultation with the State of Ohio, the counties of 

15 Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, 

16 Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, 

17 Erie, Ottawa, and Ashland, and other appropriate 

18 organizations, carry out a study regarding the suit19 ability and feasibility of establishing the the Western 

20 Reserve Heritage Area in these counties in Ohio. 

21 (2) CONTENTS.—The study shall include anal22 ysis and documentation regarding whether the Study 

23 Area—

24 (A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, 

25 and cultural resources that together represent 
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1 distinctive aspects of American heritage worthy 

2 of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and 

3 continuing use, and are best managed through 

4 partnerships among public and private entities 

5 and by combining diverse and sometimes non6 contiguous resources and active communities; 

7 (B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, 

8 and folklife that are a valuable part of the na9 tional story; 

10 (C) provides outstanding opportunities to 

11 conserve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic 

12 features; 

13 (D) provides outstanding recreational and 

14 educational opportunities; 

15 (E) contains resources important to the 

16 identified theme or themes of the Study Area 

17 that retain a degree of integrity capable of sup18 porting interpretation; 

19 (F) includes residents, business interests, 

20 nonprofit organizations, and local and State 

21 governments that are involved in the planning, 

22 have developed a conceptual financial plan that 

23 outlines the roles for all participants, including 

24 the Federal Government, and have dem-
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1 onstrated support for the concept of a national 

2 heritage area; 

3 (G) has a potential management entity to 

4 work in partnership with residents, business in5 terests, nonprofit organizations, and local and 

6 State governments to develop a national herit7 age area consistent with continued local and 

8 State economic activity; and 

9 (H) has a conceptual boundary map that is 

10 supported by the public. 

11 (c) BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.—The Study 

12 Area shall be comprised of the counties of Trumbull, 

13 Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, 

14 Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa and Ash15 land in Ohio.

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