Study to gauge Western Reserve allure

By Linda Linonis

Public meetings on attaining National Heritage Area status are planned Feb. 17 and 18.

LIBERTY — What makes the counties in the Connecticut Western Reserve unique and how to capitalize on special qualities are the crux of the Western Reserve Heritage Feasibility Study.

Melinda Huntley of Ohio Seagrant and Lake Erie Coastal Trail, based in Sandusky, spoke to members of the Liberty Historical Society recently at the Liberty administration building about what designation as a National Heritage Area means.

The Connecticut Western Reserve includes all or portions of the counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geauga, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa and Ashland.

Huntley, one of 21 members of the Western Reserve Steering Committee, said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, introduced legislation to conduct the study, which is being coordinated by the National Park Service. Though the park service is involved in the study, National Heritage Areas do not become part of the park service.

Huntley said public meetings are planned to gauge interest and garner information. Sessions are set from 4 to 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Trumbull Campus of Kent State University in Champion and at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at Hale Farm and Village in Bath. Other meetings will be in June and July.

Huntley said among questions that participants should consider are: Do the people want National Heritage Area designation? What are the compelling stories about the area?

She said the benefits of the designation are unique to each area. But she said among advantages include preservation of historic and cultural sites and natural resources, being an economic stimulus and building community pride.

“It’s about working together over a wide geographic area ... but it’s locally driven, she said.

Huntley offered the Dayton aviation area as an example of an emphasis on economics and the Ohio and Lake Erie Canal as an emphasis on recreation.

She described the Western Reserve as a “microcosm” of the United States.

“Early settlers came here, followed by European immigrants. There is a diversity that has come with this migration of cultures and ideas,” she said.

Huntley also said the area projects a “vanguard of thinking,” that is, a new way of thinking because of the diversity. She offered “themes” people interested in the study must consider — migration of the ethnic community, transportation and its impact, how industry such as steel, health, rubber or plastic shaped the area, land use and architecture and the effect of Lake Erie.

Carol Faustino, president of the Liberty Historical Society, can offer many compelling stories about what makes the Western Reserve and Liberty special. She said the society already is engaged in interviewing longtime residents so that the history and flavor of the community are not lost.

“Liberty at one time produced coal sent all over the world,” Faustino said. “We don’t want to forget or lose those stories.”

XVisit www.westernreserve.ning.com and www.parkplanning.nps.gov