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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 15, 2012 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~-- -- Q <br />SUBJECT: National Historic Preservation Month <br />DEPARTMENT: Department of Environment, <br />Agriculture, Parks and <br />Recreation (DEAPR) <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Proclamation <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Dave Stancil, 245-2522 <br />Rich Shaw, 245-2514 <br />PURPOSE: To proclaim May as National Historic Preservation Month in Orange County. <br />BACKGROUND: The National Trust for Historic Preservation is celebrating May as National <br />Historic Preservation Month. This year's theme is "DiscoverAmerica's Hidden Gems': <br />Since 2005, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has celebrated May as National Historic <br />Preservation Month, encouraging communities large and small to celebrate their rich, diverse <br />heritage and draw more Americans into the growing national preservation movement. <br />Communities from coast to coast are filled with unexplored historic treasures. The National <br />Trust for Historic Preservation encourages local governments and their historic preservation <br />commissions to reach out to a growing audience of neighbors, tourists, students and <br />preservationists by promoting historic places in communities, and encouraging newcomers to <br />learn more about local preservation programs. <br />Orange County has many historic treasures, and May is a particularly good month to celebrate <br />them. Special places like Ayr Mount, Burwell School, Forest Theater, the Occoneechee Village <br />site, Horace Williams House, Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail, Margaret Lane Cemetery, <br />and the Orange County Museum are just some of the places waiting for residents and visitors to <br />see what riches they have to offer. <br />On May 3 the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) convened a Historic <br />Preservation Summit at the historic Orange County Courthouse. Local preservation groups <br />throughout the county met in Hillsborough to share information about what they are doing and <br />to identify opportunities to collaborate on projects of mutual interest. The summit followed up <br />on a similar event held in 2009. <br />National Historic Preservation Month offers an opportunity for Orange County and local partners <br />to reflect on successful efforts to preserve the built environment and associated heritage. In <br />