The "Waiting For History To Catch Up With Reality" Story

Sign guiding us to the Chickies Rock County Park.
Click on photographs to enlarge.

It was an ordinary day.  Standing high above the mighty Susquehanna River at Breezyview Overlook in the Chickies Rock County Park taking photos of the river as it runs from the left at Columbia Crossing River Trails Center to the right where the river turns North-West toward Harrisburg.  What a majestic view from this area.  Lancaster County is on one side of the river while York County is on the other side of the river.  These two counties have bonded together and formed what they now call the Susquehanna National Heritage Area.  The Northwest Lancaster County River Trail sits on the east side of the river and runs fourteen miles starting at the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center and spreading north along the river.  

Looking from the park toward the bridge that spans the
Susquehanna between Lancaster and York Counties.

The Susque- hanna Heritage is seeking National Heritage Area designation of Lancaster and York Counties by the United States Congress.  Being declared a National Heritage Area would advance heritage and outdoor tourism in the area, create jobs and enhance our region's economy.  

A view looking North-West.

National recognition will boost visibility and visitation, bring more National Park Service support and further promote the majestic Susquehanna and its scenic river lands, vibrant river towns and special significance to our nation's history.  As of today there are 49 National Heritage Areas in the United States and we would like to be #50.  But, it takes FOREVER!  A study was started in 2008 to determine whether our region meets the criteria for Congressional designation as a National Heritage Center.  We did meet the criteria and have passed to the next step.  In February of 2017 our U.S. Senator introduced an act to designate Lancaster and York Counties as America's 50th National Heritage Area.  

This is the Columbia Crossing River Trails building near
the bridge that connects the two counties. 

Four months later the U.S. Represen- tatives from both counties introduced bills in the U.S. House to do the same.  Then on April 11, 2018 the Susque- hanna Heritage President joined our Congressmen and the town of Columbia's mayor in a U.S. House Federal Lands Subcommittee hearing on the bill.  On June 5th the U.S. House approved the bill.  Now everyone is waiting on our Senators to support the Susquehanna National Heritage Area.  

This really neat logo will broadcast the new Heritage Center.

It's been nearly 10 years to get this far.  Why?  My gosh, the Susque- hanna River is an historical part of our country's background.  It was part of the passageway towards the West.  Why can't it now carry the simple name of National Heritage Area.  I do realize that naming the area a National Heritage Area will give us $150,000 a year through the National Park Service, but only if matched through local funding.  Maybe, just maybe, I will get the chance to visit Chickies Rock County Park and see a Federal Plaque telling the story of the mighty Susquehanna and how it influenced our nation's history.  That is if Washington gets busy doing its job.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The beautiful park I visited today.