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Sustainable Preservation: California’s Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, 2013-2017

A Vision for Historic Preservation in California

Look up the term “vision statement” on the Internet and you will find a wide variety of
definitions and opinions as to what such a statement should look like. But the vast majority
of those sources share a few common themes: A vision statement articulates a commonly
shared vision of the future; it is aspirational and inspirational; it describes in graphic terms
where we want to be in the future if everything goes exactly as we hope. Having a vision
statement for preservation in California serves to
articulate a common purpose for all those who A vision statement
consider themselves part of the preservation articulates a commonly
community. It is, therefore, a set of long-term shared vision of the
ambitions to which we can aspire and that can in future; it is aspirational
turn inspire us to continue in our work. and inspirational; it

The following vision is informed by the responses describes in graphic terms
received during the listening sessions, surveys, and where we want to be in
interviews held during 2011 to help guide the the future if everything
development of this Statewide Historic Preservation goes exactly as we hope.
Plan. Without any specific prompting, attendees at
each listening session, as well as those taking the surveys and being interviewed, were
asked to identify in either general or specific terms what preservation would “look like” at
some point in an ideal future. What follows are the ideas that were brought up repeatedly,
although not always in the same language of course, by those responding to these outreach
efforts.

A Word About “Community”

Throughout this plan the word “community” is repeatedly used and therefore warrants a
brief explanation. In many ways, and in the way it is used in this plan, “community” is much
like the concept of “beauty”—it is defined in the eye of the beholder. One reader of this
plan may bring to it a much different sense of what makes up his or her community than
another. Depending on circumstances, an individual may ascribe a different meaning to
community at different times in his or her life, or even at different times in the same day.
It is in fact the many different meanings that can be ascribed to the word community that is
the reason this term is used so often in this plan. Community may be the neighborhood
where you live. It might encompass the region where you work. It could also include your
route to and from work. Or it may extend to the places you vacation or would like to visit.
For those working in public agencies, community may encompass the entire jurisdiction of
your agency—the city, the county, the state, the land your agency owns or manages.
Community may not even be place-based, but could be defined by such things as culture,
gender, race, age, abilities, hobbies, interests, and political opinions, just to name a few.
In the end, community is personal and changeable. Therefore, as you read this plan,
consider all the different meanings of the word community that come to your mind as you
reflect on the issues, goals, and objectives discussed herein. Try to step beyond your own
experiences to consider what other readers may define as their communities. By seeking to
understand the many ways that Californians define community, preservationists can better
work to ensure historical and cultural resources are considered valuable parts of those
communities and, therefore, support the vision articulated in this plan.

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