Warwick receives ‘Preserve America Community’ label

By Kelcy Dolan
Posted 7/26/16

Earlier this month, Mayor Scott Avedisian received a letter from First Lady Michelle Obama that Warwick has been designated as a “Preserve America Community.”

“Your community holds a …

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Warwick receives ‘Preserve America Community’ label

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Earlier this month, Mayor Scott Avedisian received a letter from First Lady Michelle Obama that Warwick has been designated as a “Preserve America Community.”

“Your community holds a treasured place in the American Story, and it is through your vision and dedication that our history will be upheld and our future will be renewed,” Obama wrote. “The Americans who came before us built this country on the strength of their hopes, hard work and perseverance. Now you are using those same qualities to help share our history with today’s Americans and those of tomorrow.”

Avedisian was issued the letter on July 7, and as a Preserve America Community Warwick receives national recognition for its historical preservation efforts for “telling the nation’s story.” The city will also be able to use the Preserve America logo on both educational and promotional materials and is awaiting a community sign.

Warwick will be listed in a web-based directory for “heritage tourism destinations.” In the past, Preserve America Communities have also been highlighted in the “Discover our Shared Heritage” National Register Travel Itinerary Series, as well as the “Teaching with Historic Places” teaching materials from the National Park Service.

The program first began in 2009, when President Barack Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. The program is run through the national historic preservation program within the Department of the Interior, in partnership with the White House and other federal agencies.

Since its inception, more than 900 cities and town from across the country have been designated as Preserve America Communities. The hope of the program is to stimulate and encourage preservation initiatives focusing on the country’s “cultural and natural heritage.”

In this way, communities can understand more of their past, strengthen their local identity, and foster increased involvement and support for preservation efforts.

Avedisian said he first became interested in the program a few years ago on the way to an event at Roger Williams University. Along the way, as he entered Bristol, he saw a sign that the municipality was a Preserve America Community.

Noting that Warwick had its fair share of preservation initiatives, the city began looking into what would be required for the application.

“We were surprised,” Avedisian said. “We were doing a lot of it anyway.”

In the application, Warwick had to show that within its “master plan” there was a focus on restoring and preserving the “historic” and outline what projects were already underway, such as the restoration of City Hall. Similarly, the application called for a tourism plan that highlighted historical aspects of the city, such as Gaspee Days, as well as the neighborhood signs throughout historic Pawtuxet Village.

“We have always found that our historical events are well attended and draw people into the city. This is a great way to preserve and celebrate our past,” Avedisian said.

In addition to “bragging rights,” Avedisian said the new designation makes Warwick eligible to apply for grants through the Office of the Interior for future restoration and preservation projects, such as amenities for Rocky Point and restoring historic buildings throughout the city.

With its historical significance, Warwick is a “well-rounded community” offering something for everyone, Avedisian said.

“This shows that our past is important to us and as a community we haven’t forgotten where we come from,” he said. “We want to keep our history alive and preserve it for the next generation.”

The city is currently waiting on the promotional materials and community signs to arrive within the next couple weeks. Once they arrive, the city intends to host a public unveiling as a preserve America Community.

For more information visit achp.gov or preserveamerica.gov.

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