Lawrence and Douglas County have a long way to go before earning a National Heritage Area designation, Judge Deanell Tacha said Tuesday.

But, she said, it’s an effort that should be made. “We have a great story to tell,” she said.

Tacha, the Lawrence-based chief judge of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, presented the report of the 17-member National Heritage Area Committee on Tuesday to the Lawrence City Commission and Douglas County Commission.

Tacha said the heritage area designation focusing on Lawrence’s “Bleeding Kansas” days before the Civil War, as well the evolution of Haskell Indian Nations University would draw federal dollars and private donations, as well as a tourism-driven boost to the economy.

“We know there are dollars out there,” Tacha said. “We can’t calculate them very well or precisely.”

The committee recommended the city and county hire a consultant to begin developing a plan that will lead to the designation. Lawrence and Douglas County also should invite other cities perhaps Topeka and Leavenworth to participate in the process.

“Lawrence and Douglas County may not be big enough,” Tacha said. “The story that needs to be told is bigger than us.”

She estimated it would cost $100,000 to do start work on the project, although the price could be lower if the city and county contract with the National Park Service to do pieces of the feasibility study that would have to go to Congress.

Local officials are already in contact with the service about the designation effort. Sue Pridemore, a Partnerships-Heritage area coordinator interpretive planner with the service, toured historic sites Tuesday in Douglas County.

“The Park Service is willing to work along with us,” Tacha said.

Tacha said she already had limited contact with Kansas representatives in Congress on the issue.

“Let me not understate how difficult this congressional designation is,” she said. “It will take a great deal of political will to get this done.”

Officials hope a designation can be made by 2004, when Lawrence and the Kansas Territory will celebrate their 150th anniversaries. City and county commissioners will discuss whether to proceed during a joint study session with school officials next Wednesday.

“Keeping the ball rolling,” City Commissioner David Dunfield said, “is going to be very important.”