HANFORD REACH NATIONAL MONUMENT HERITAGE AND VISITOR CENTER

AT ISSUE
There exists a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Hanford Reach National Monument Heritage and Visitor Center (The Reach) and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to support development of the Reach Heritage Center, subject to specific legislative appropriation, in the amount of $5 million. $2 Million was appropriated by washington State in the FY 2005-2007 budget. This request is for the remaining $3 million.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• Support the remaining $3 million appropriation
• Support specific legislation to fund development of The Reach in accordance with the MOA between the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Hanford Reach National Monument Heritage and Visitor Center.
• Support the efforts of the Hanford Reach National Monument Heritage and Visitor Center, the Richland Public Facilities District and others to develop and build the Reach Heritage Center.

BACKGROUND
A group of organizations including the City of Richland, Richland Public Facilities District, Friends of the Hanford Reach national Monument, Environmental Science and Technology Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau are working to bring the Mid Columbia Region an Interpretive Center to showcase the Hanford Reach National Monument, referred to as the Reach Heritage Center. The Center will showcase the geological, technological, cultural and natural history of the Columbia Basin and disperse visitors to various points of interest throughout the state. This project enjoys broad support from the cities of West Richland, Kennewick and Pasco, the counties of Benton, Franklin, Grant and Walla Walla including local residents.

Over $20 million has already been raised toward the completion of the center.  The appropriation is to be specifically used to develop public education and interpretive elements to unveil the mysteries of the great Ice-Age Floods in accordance with the Commission’s Centennial 2013 plan. The State Parks Commission has estimated the cost at $9 million were the state to build it independently.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

Tagged as: 99352, 99354