Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe recently adopted a new Heritage Tourism Plan that encourages all communities in the county to share stories that highlight their identity and history in order to support local and regional preservation, conservation, tourism, and quality of life. Methods of sharing may include exhibits, public art, and storytelling.

The resolution to adopt the Heritage Tourism Plan, signed by all three commissioners, notes the importance of the tourism industry to the local economy and the appreciation that residents and visitors have for the county's natural assets, history, and culture.

In his presentation at the commissioners' meeting, Chester County heritage preservation coordinator David Blackburn noted that the purpose of the plan is to increase heritage tourism in the county as an economic factor, encourage preservation of and investment in heritage sites and resources, and raise public awareness of the significance of historic communities and landscapes.

The Heritage Tourism Plan identifies Chester County's historic framework through six primary themes: the natural landscape, the cultural landscape, evolving values, the Philadelphia campaign, iron and steel, and creative expression. To prepare the plan, the Chester County Planning Commission partnered with consultants from Heritage Strategies, SWELL, ConsultEcon, and Heritage Consulting Inc., and coordinated with the America250PA Chester County Commission, while also getting input from many different partners and the general public.

For more information and to view the plan, visit http://www.chescoplanning.org/Historic/HeritageTourism.cfm.