Those of us who live in the Hudson Valley and love the region for its rich heritage and scenic beauty often overlook an important element that defines us as a region. Nearly as significant as our many historic and natural treasures is the Valley's spirit of community cooperation for preserving these invaluable assets. That spirit itself is historic and has been officially recognized with the establishment of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.

Congressman Hinchey first introduced legislation to establish the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area in 1994. An amended version of that bill was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton on November 12, 1996. The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, which includes ten counties from Yonkers to Troy (see map), is now an affiliate unit of the National Park Service (NPS). The Hudson River Greenway is the "management entity" for the heritage area.

A heritage area is a relatively new kind of National Park unit. In a Heritage Area, the National Park Service and the federal government do not buy or manage land or properties. NPS provides technical assistance to local communities or local managers to assist them in managing natural and historic sites of national importance. Heritage areas also usually cover a wide area rather than one or two specific sites. The idea is to conserve places important to the nation through cooperative partnerships.

Follow the link to learn more about the history and benefits of the Hudson River Greenway Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.