Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) has begun outreach for Pennsylvania’s next official statewide historic preservation plan. The state’s current plan will expire at the end of 2024.
The National Historic Preservation Act requires state historic preservation offices to develop and maintain statewide plans, which are intended to guide local, regional, and statewide preservation efforts over a period of time.
In Pennsylvania, the PA SHPO is responsible for guiding the development of such a plan, securing its approval from the National Park Service and distributing the plan as a resource for stakeholders, including state and federal agencies, organizations, municipalities, and the public. The development of the plan is a collaborative effort that considers the perspectives and needs of the stakeholders to define the role of historic preservation in sustaining and revitalizing the Commonwealth’s diverse communities.
Under the direction the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, PA SHPO coordinates state and federal historic and preservation programs, including the National Register of Historic Places, state and federal tax credits, and review of state and federal projects for their impact on historic resources.
Public engagement is essential to the planning process and the first step in developing a responsive statewide plan. Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in PA SHPO's “Planning for Preservation in Pennsylvania, 2024–2034” survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PAPreservationPlan2024.
The results of the survey will help identify issues and create a shared vision for the future of Pennsylvania’s older and historic places. PA SHPO expects to begin the next phase of the statewide planning process, outreach to the public and PA SHPO’s preservation partners, in early 2024.
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learn more by visiting PHMC online or following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACT: Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639