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It is recommended that heritage area development continue with any potential heritage area including all four
counties.
(See also the detailed review of recommendations.)
After considerable study of the natural and cultural resources and landscapes, potential interpretive themes, and
existing linkages of the Eastern Shore, and furthermore the consideration of potential management arrangements, the consultant has identified the entire four-county study area as a single potential heritage
area. The region’s resources and themes are intertwined to such a degree, and the landscapes are of such character and integrity, that it is difficult to divide them on any objective basis. While each
county might potentially tell most if not all of the interpretive stories identified later in this report, collectively they stand to take greater advantage of their opportunities, not only in terms of
interpretation but also in terms of landscape and habitat protection, and recreation development. Water trails, in particular, seem ideally suited for promotion, and would best be designed and developed on a
multi-county basis.
From the standpoint of management, the argument for collaboration is if anything even greater. These small
counties—with correspondingly limited staffs—would fare better in fundraising, public capital investment, and promotion by cooperating on a regional basis, rather than undertaking duplicative efforts that, on an
individual basis, each county might find difficult to support.
Finally, while the notion of four counties as a single area seems large on its face, this is in fact a rather small area
within the state of Maryland, traversed in under two hours by car in any direction. It is large enough for visitors (and residents) to experience a significant portion of the Chesapeake Bay region, yet
convenient enough to establish single bases—among a number of outstanding choices—for multiple days of outings. In comparison to most heritage regions in Pennsylvania—which has something of a built-in bias for
multi-county regions—this region is smaller than all but one or two (both single counties) to be found in that state.
The consultants furthermore find the proposed Eastern Shore Heritage Area to be feasible based on the MHAA Selection Criteria for the application for recognition and when compared to the “Ten Core Components of a Successful Heritage Area” identified by MHAA (see Appendix B). ESHI is in a position to create the stewardship and visioning teams to produce and implement a management action plan for effective and successful heritage tourism development.
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