The Brookings Historic Preservation Commission (BHPC) has received a Commission Excellence Award from the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC).
“These awards recognize and honor outstanding efforts and achievements by local preservation, historic district and landmark commissions and boards of architectural review,” said Jay D. Vogt, director of the South Dakota State Historical Society at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. “We are pleased that a South Dakota commission has been selected to receive this recognition.”
The BHPC took the initiative to partner with other organizations to highlight the city’s history and historic buildings and demonstrate shared goals. By partnering with the Brookings Sustainability Council, for example, the commission has been able to demonstrate how historic preservation is an integral part of the sustainability movement. The commission members actively seek positions on affiliated committees, such as the Comprehensive Master Plan Committee and Public Arts Committee.
“This outreach demonstrates a keen understanding that preservationists must be ‘at the table’ if they are to promote historic preservation as an integral part of local public policy,” said Stephanie Paul, NAPC executive director.
The commission members received their award last week at NAPC’s FORUM in Des Moines, Iowa. FORUM 2018 brought together more than 600 preservation professionals and commission members from across the country for a week of training, education and networking. FORUM is held in different destination cities every two years and is the only national conference dedicated to the important work of volunteer commission members in locally-designated historic districts.
About the South Dakota State Historical Society
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call 605-773-3458 or visit www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call 605-394-1936 for more information.
About the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions
Founded in 1983, NAPC’s mission is to build strong local preservation programs through education, advocacy and training. For more information, visit http://napcommissions.org/.
