newjerseynewsroom.com

Would promote historic sites in 213 towns in 14 counties

After three years of public meetings and discussions, the proposed Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area management plan is available for public review, Cate Litvack, the organization‘s director, announced Wednesday.

New Jerseyans may comment on the proposal chapter by chapter through March 28.

The plan is divided into two sections:

• Part I - Vision, Alternatives and Environmental Assessment and;
• Part II - Crossroads Implementation Plan.

The latter focuses on how Crossroads and partners throughout the National Heritage Area would implement the management plan together over the next five to ten years. The federally required plan has not yet been approved by the Crossroads of the American Revolution Association Board of Trustees or by the National Park Service.

The Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, one of 49 in the nation, comprises 213 New Jersey cities and towns within 14 counties from Bergen to Gloucester County.

Litvack said the mission of the Crossroads of the American Revolution Association is to foster the conservation, preservation and interpretation of the state’s Revolutionary War heritage in ways that enhance public understanding about the people, places, and events that transformed the course of American history and instill a sense of pride in New Jersey’s citizens about this heritage.

Litvack said she is seeking a great amount of public comment to include in the final plan. Once the 30-day public review period has ended and the plan is completed, it will be approved by the Crossroads Association and submitted -- “with photos and vignettes about our planning work in the heritage area over the past three years“ -- for approval to the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior for approval this year.