Council approves expansion of Anacostia Trails Heritage Area to include southern Prince George's County

The County Council voted 8–0 on March 25, 2025, to adopt Resolution CR 38–2025, expanding the boundaries of the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area to include portions of southern Prince George's County.

Katherine Hightower (staff) provided an overview of the Maryland Historic Areas Program and the county's 2021 Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Management Plan. Hightower said the Maryland Heritage Areas Program requires evidence that a local jurisdiction supports a proposed expansion; the resolution submitted by the council serves as that local statement of support. Hightower told the council the heritage-area boundaries were last updated in 1997 and the proposed amendment would include Council Districts 7, 8 and 9.

ATLHA, Inc., the nonprofit that manages the county's heritage area, requested the expansion to promote heritage tourism and strengthen local economies through development, protection and promotion of cultural, historic and natural resources, Hightower said.

Councilmembers moved to suspend the rules so the resolution could be considered and then voted to adopt CR 38–2025 by roll call. The motion to suspend the rules carried on a roll call (recorded as unanimous); the adoption vote carried 8–0. A councilmember noted the resolution's title in the record should read "Anacostia Trails Heritage Area" rather than the phrasing that appeared on one printed line of the agenda; staff corrected the phrasing during the discussion.

The resolution transmits county support for the proposed boundary change to the Maryland Heritage Areas Program. The council's action was procedural: the resolution records local support; the state program and ATLHA, Inc. will proceed with the administrative review process for a formal boundary amendment.