07-04-2025
Bill reintroduced to designate Finger Lakes as National Heritage Area
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A bill was reintroduced that would designate the Finger Lakes region as a National Heritage Area.
A National Heritage Area is a designation by the National Park Service. They are places considered for their 'historical, cultural, and natural resources [to] combine to form cohesive, nationally important landscapes.'
NPS: Finger Lakes meets the criteria to become a National Heritage Site
There was a push years ago for the region to receive the designation. A bill was initially led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and has been reintroduced by Congresswoman Claudia Tenney.
In a statement, Tenney said the National Heritage Area designation would lead to conservation, recreation, and economic development.
'The Finger Lakes Region is a landmark of NY-24, and establishing this area as an NHA will preserve the region's history and stories for generations to come,' Tenney said. 'It's a privilege to reintroduce this legislation, and I am eager to see our region receive the recognition it deserves.'
Monroe County is included in the Finger Lakes region — as are Livingston, Ontario, Wayne, and Yates counties, among others.
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