Langley joins maritime heritage effort
Published 1:30 am Friday, May 12, 2023
The City of Langley has joined Maritime Washington National Heritage Area, a new regional effort supported by the National Park Service to preserve and celebrate the region’s unique and diverse maritime heritage, according to a press release.
After planning for years, the organization has just begun asking government agencies and private sector organizations to join as partners. Its area of concern spans 3,000 miles of Washington’s saltwater shoreline. Joining the organization will help Langley officials connect with communities facing similar challenges and also stay alert to funding and other opportunities.
“This new initiative is very exciting as it will help bring together wide ranges of our community together to work on issues of common concern — commercial and sports fisherman, tribes and non-tribes, and people of all walks of life with a connection to maritime life,” Langley Mayor Scott Chaplin said. “I hope that all coastal communities, and nonprofits and commercial entities connected to maritime issues will join this important new network.”
Chaplin joined other area partners, including representatives from the Port of Coupeville, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Island County and the Whidbey Island Maritime Heritage Foundation, at a launch event Thursday afternoon.
The purpose of the maritime heritage area is to connect organizations whose work is related to the preservation of maritime history, resources, industry and ecology with funding sources and regional partners engaging in similar projects.
