N.Y. Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law § 35.13

§ 35.13 Local or regional heritage areas. The legislature finds and\ndeclares that the heritage area approach to the identification,\npreservation, development and use of the important natural and historic\nresources in urban or regional settings is a valuable means to increase\npublic educational and recreational opportunities and generally enrich\nthe quality of life within a community or region. Therefore, the\ncommissioner and officials of other state agencies may encourage local\nefforts to establish heritage areas around heritage area resources of\nlocal or regional significance. The commissioner may relate or integrate\nlocal and regional heritage areas into a statewide system of state\ndesignated heritage areas.\n