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 Herit-
age 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 estab-
lishing the Western Reserve Heritage Area.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Western Reserve Her-
itage Areas Study Act’’. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING THE 
WESTERN RESERVE, OHIO. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) The area that encompasses the modern-day 
counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Por-
tage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, 
Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and Ashland in Ohio 
with the rich history in what was once the Western 
Reserve, has made a unique contribution to the cul-
tural, political and industrial development of the 
United States. 
(2) The Western Reserve is distinctive as the 
land settled by the people of Connecticut after the 
Revolutionary War. The Western Reserve holds a 
unique mark as the original wilderness land of the 
West that many settlers migrated to in order to 
begin life outside of the original 13 colonies. 
(3) The Western Reserve played a significant 
role in providing land to the people of Connecticut 
whose property and land was destroyed during the 
Revolution. These settlers were descendants of the 
brave immigrants who came to the Americas in the 
17th century. 
(4) The Western Reserve offered a new destina-
tion for those who moved west in search of land and 
prosperity. The agricultural and industrial base that 
began in the Western Reserve still lives strong in 
these prosperous and historical counties.
(5) The heritage of the Western Reserve re-
mains transfixed in the counties of Trumbull, 
Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuya-
hoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ot-
tawa, and Ashland in Ohio. The people of these 
counties are proud of their heritage as shown 
through the unwavering attempts to preserve agri-
cultural land and the industrial foundation that has 
been embedded in this region since the establishment 
of the Western Reserve. Throughout these counties, 
historical sites, and markers preserve the unique tra-
ditions and customs of its original heritage. 
(6) The counties that encompass the Western 
Reserve continue to maintain a strong connection to 
its historic past as seen through its preservation of 
its local heritage, including historic homes, buildings, 
and centers of public gatherings. 
(7) There is a need for assistance for the pres-
ervation and promotion of the significance of the 
Western Reserve as the natural, historic and cul-
tural 
heritage 
of 
the 
counties 
of 
Trumbull, 
Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuya-
hoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa 
and Ashland in Ohio.
(8) The Department of the Interior is respon-
sible for protecting the Nation’s cultural and histor-
ical resources. There are significant examples of 
such resources within these counties and what was 
once The Western Reserve to merit the involvement 
of the Federal Government in the development of 
programs and projects, in cooperation with the State 
of Ohio and other local governmental entities, to 
adequately conserve, protect, and interpret this her-
itage for future generations, while providing oppor-
tunities for education and revitalization. 
(b) STUDY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in con-
sultation with the State of Ohio, the counties of 
Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, 
Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, 
Erie, Ottawa, and Ashland, and other appropriate 
organizations, carry out a study regarding the suit-
ability and feasibility of establishing the the Western 
Reserve Heritage Area in these counties in Ohio. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The study shall include anal-
ysis and documentation regarding whether the Study 
Area—
(A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, 
and cultural resources that together represent
distinctive aspects of American heritage worthy 
of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and 
continuing use, and are best managed through 
partnerships among public and private entities 
and by combining diverse and sometimes non-
contiguous resources and active communities; 
(B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, 
and folklife that are a valuable part of the na-
tional story; 
(C) provides outstanding opportunities to 
conserve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic 
features; 
(D) provides outstanding recreational and 
educational opportunities; 
(E) contains resources important to the 
identified theme or themes of the Study Area 
that retain a degree of integrity capable of sup-
porting interpretation; 
(F) includes residents, business interests, 
nonprofit organizations, and local and State 
governments that are involved in the planning, 
have developed a conceptual financial plan that 
outlines the roles for all participants, including 
the Federal Government, and have dem-
onstrated support for the concept of a national 
heritage area; 
(G) has a potential management entity to 
work in partnership with residents, business in-
terests, nonprofit organizations, and local and 
State governments to develop a national herit-
age area consistent with continued local and 
State economic activity; and 
(H) has a conceptual boundary map that is 
supported by the public. 
(c) BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.—The Study 
Area shall be comprised of the counties of Trumbull, 
Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, 
Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa and Ash-
land in Ohio.
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