Delta heritage area organizers seeking input on plans

CLEVELAND — Organizers of the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area are inviting Delta residents to help develop a plan for the heritage area by sharing their insights in a survey.

“The goal of a Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area is to create a community-driven network to support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism and educational projects,” said Luther Brown, director of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University and manager of the National Heritage Area. “The survey is an important step in the process, offering residents a chance to share their thoughts on the Delta’s important stories and what they would like to see the National Heritage Area do in the coming years to preserve, celebrate and share the heritage of the Mississippi Delta.”

The survey can be found at www.msdeltaheritage.com. The deadline for completing the survey is Aug. 31.

The Mississippi Delta was designated a National Heritage Area in 2009, and organizers are currently developing a management plan to guide the heritage area’s activities for the next 10-15 years.