Park County, Colorado was recently named as one of five new Preserve America Communities in Colorado. The national designation is awarded to communities demonstrating strong dedication to the preservation of local history and a desire to share that legacy through heritage tourism.

Park County Commissioners Leni Walker and John Tighe accepted the certificate of designation, signed by First Lady Laura Bush, for the people of Park County at a Friday February 10 luncheon at the Saving Places conference in Denver. The conference, hosted by Colorado Preservation, Inc., is the largest historic preservation event of its kind in the country. It was attended by Colorado's U.S. Senators Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard, Colorado's U.S. Representative John Salazar, Mark Rey, the Undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Richard Moe, the President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and many other national, state and local officials.

Representatives from Cripple Creek, Glenwood Springs, and Lake City also received certificates of designations as Preserve America communities. Georgetown was officially designated in August 2005 and had already received its certificate.

"There are significant economic, educational, and cultural benefits that historic preservation, through efforts such as heritage tourism, bring to a community," said Rey, who made the presentations for Mrs. Bush. "Sustainable preservation is not a cost for maintaining the past, it is an investment in building the future. These communities are leaders in this trend and have created a powerful positive example for others."

"We may very well be the largest community to receive this recognition," said Linda Balough, Coordinator for the Park County Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, a county appointed group that guides historic preservation within the county and provides information and assistance to individuals and groups who want to preserve the story of their historic buildings or sites.

"While at 2,200 square miles, Park County is a vast area, the people here are indeed a community when it comes to recognizing the value of preserving the natural and cultural heritage of our county," said Balough. She noted there are preservation activities from Guffey to Alma and from Bailey to Trout Creek Pass.

The Preserve America White House initiative was established in 2003 to encourage and honor communities to share their history through heritage tourism and preservation. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, and Department of Housing and Urban Development partner to administer the Preserve America initiative on behalf of the Office of the First Lady. There are now 352 Preserve America Communities in 46 states.

"This designation opens doors to federal grants and other opportunities for funding to further the work being done to preserve, interpret and promote the heritage that is unique to Park County," said Balough.

Park County has also applied for designation for the South Park region of Park County as a National Heritage Area. In an August 2005 letter to the BOCC, U.S. Senator Ken Salazar said, "I applaud you for your work toward fulfilling the criteria for becoming a National Heritage Areas set forth by the National Park Service. Upon the fulfillment of those criteria, I pledge to introduce legislation on the floor of the United States Senate to designate South Park, Colorado, America's newest National Heritage Area."

This region was made a Colorado Heritage Area in 1997.