Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area Draft Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
The Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area (Greenway NHA) is a unique geographic corridor made up of connected ecosystems and communities spanning 1.5 million acres from Seattle to Ellensburg along Interstate-90. The diverse and dramatic landscape has shaped the region’s history and is interwoven with its culture and character. NHAs are places designated by Congress where historic, cultural, and natural resources combine to form cohesive, nationally important landscapes.
As the coordinating entity for the Greenway NHA, the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is pleased to share a draft Management Plan for public review and input from May 20 – June 20, 2022.
The Greenway NHA Management Plan describes a framework of Themes that convey the rich history and heritage of the Greenway NHA, and it recommends partnerships, strategies and priorities for historic preservation, natural resource conservation, responsible recreation, heritage tourism, and interpretive projects and activities. The plan was created over the last two years with input from hundreds of contributors including historical societies, conservation and recreation groups, government agencies, tribal governments, local businesses, and interested community members across the Greenway NHA.
How the public can get involved
Members of the public can visit mtsgreenway.org/comment, where there are three opportunities to provide feedback on the draft Management Plan:
- Read the Executive Summary and complete a short survey that invites your feedback about key elements of the plan. Estimated time: 15-20 minutes.
- Attend a virtual open house on June 14 or 17, where Greenway Trust staff will walk through the plan, answer questions, and invite your comments. Please pre-register at mtsgreenway.org/comment. Estimated time: 90 minutes.
- Review the full document and submit your comments via the survey or by email. Estimated time: 2-3 hours to read the entire document—though you are welcome to read and comment on individual chapters/sections too.
“No matter how you choose to get involved, we greatly appreciate your time and input,” said Jon Hoekstra, Executive Director of the Greenway Trust. “We are trying to reach as many people as possible through this planning process and are eager to build new relationships with partners who have not historically been centered in these narratives.”
The survey and draft plan will be open for public comment from May 20 – June 20, 2022. After that, the Greenway NHA planning team will review all input and create a final draft of the Management Plan to submit to the National Park Service for approval by the Secretary of the Interior.
Learn more and share your feedback: mtsgreenway.org/comment.
