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HISTORY OF 'S STATE PARKS

1984 to 2015

By

William C. Forrey

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Office of Parks and Bureau of State Parks Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Copyright © 2017 – 1st edition

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Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... vi INTRODUCTION ...... vii CHAPTER I: The Bureau of State Parks… 1980s ...... 1 CHAPTER II: 1990s - State Parks 2000, 100th Anniversary, and Key 93 ...... 13 CHAPTER III: 21st CENTURY - Growing Greener and State Park Improvements ...... 27 About the Author ...... 58 APPENDIX ...... 60 TABLE 1: Pennsylvania State Parks Directors ...... 61 TABLE 2: Department Leadership ...... 62 TABLE 3: Pennsylvania State Parks Opening Dates ...... 63 TABLE 4: State Parks and State Park Facilities Officially Named After Persons ...... 65 TABLE 5: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks - Annual Attendance ...... 69 TABLE 6: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks - Personnel Complements...... 70 TABLE 7: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks Budget Expenditures – General Fund and Other ...... 71 TABLE 8: Pennsylvania State Parks: Acreage Summary ...... 72 TABLE 9: Bureau of State Parks Awards ...... 74 Director’s Award ...... 75 Administrative Assistant Award ...... 76 Bureau Award ...... 77 Park Ranger Award ...... 78 Park Maintenance Supervisor Award ...... 79 Louis Ritrovato Environmental Education Award ...... 80 Conservation Volunteer of the Year Awards ...... 81 Special Award ...... 82 TABLE 10: Pennsylvania Parks & Foundation Awards ...... 83 Cliff Jones Keystone Legacy Award ...... 84 Joseph Ibberson Government Award ...... 84 State Park of the Year Award ...... 85 State of the Year Award ...... 85 Volunteerism Award ...... 86 Improvement Award ...... 86 Education Award ...... 86 President’s Award...... 87 Young Volunteer Award ...... 87 iv

TABLE 11: Pennsylvania Envirothon – State Competitions ...... 88 TABLE 12: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks – Original Four Region Organization ...... 89 TABLE 13: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks – Five Region Reorganization...... 90 TABLE 14: State Parks Acquired and/or Completed during M. K. Goddard’s 24 –Year Tenure ...... 91 TABLE 15: Pennsylvania State Parks Special Resource Management Areas ...... 93 Natural Areas ...... 93 Special Management Areas ...... 93 TABLE 16: Pennsylvania State Parks Derived from State Forest Land ...... 94 TABLE 17: Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Chapters and Associates ...... 95 Chapters ...... 95 Associates ...... 96 Index of Names ...... 97 Index of Photographs ...... 101

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The writer expresses his appreciation to his colleagues who gave guidance, suggestions, and constructive criticism throughout the several years of accumulating the history of the Bureau of State Parks: Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources; John Norbeck, Deputy Secretary of Parks and Forestry;; John Hallas, Director, and Ryan Dysinger, Assistant Director for the Bureau of State Parks; Bureau of State Parks staff members Beth Grove, Matt Azeles, Rex Lord, Ryan Dysinger, Dave Sariano, Tamara Peffer, Jeff Johns, Burt Ellsworth, and Terri Kromel; DCNR staff members Joe Graci and Al Thomas; and Bureau of State Parks retirees George Kaufman, Bob Barth, Maxine Harrison, Greg Sassaman, Jack Graham, Vanyla Tierney, and David Kemmerer, former Director, Bureau of State Parks, and Lori Nygard former Assistant Director.

In addition, several persons with a vast knowledge of Pennsylvania’s state parks gave their expertise in reviewing the document. They are Marci Mowery, President, Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation; Ken Wolensky, noted author and historian; and Peter S. Duncan III, former Secretary of Environmental Resources.

Special acknowledgment is given to Tamara Peffer and Linda White for their proofreading and editorial skills, and Brad Schultz for the cover graphics and photo editing. Barbara Wagner, Department of Environmental Protection, Document Design Section, was responsible for final formatting.

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INTRODUCTION

The Pennsylvania State Park System began in 1893 when the Pennsylvania legislature authorized the acquisition of land for Valley Forge. It continued to grow and expand from one unit to 120 units, and from 250 acres to almost 300,000 acres of land by 2015. A previous book entitled History of Pennsylvania’s State Parks was authored by William C. Forrey and covered the years 1893 to 1983. This book is a continuation of the Pennsylvania State Park history from 1984 to 2015.

In the , all 50 states operate and maintain state park systems. Attendance continues to increase and opportunities for outdoor recreation are offered in more variety than ever. At the same time, more services are provided, such as cabin and campsite reservations, guided hikes and tours, water , long distance trails and many environmental education programs. Friends groups have been established in many state parks and are providing outstanding assistance in helping to maintain and expand services to state park visitors.

In the National Association of State Park Directors annual report for 2012-2013, statistics show that the 50 state park systems throughout the United States operated 8,209 park areas with a total attendance of 727,588,863. New construction costs for the year were $572,814,760. Operating expenditures for the 12-month period totaled $2,332,360,551. In regard to personnel, the total of 49,980 included 18,484 full-time employees, 4,007 part-time positions and 27,489 seasonal staff.

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CHAPTER I: The History of Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks… 1980s

Ridley Creek State Park in County is a 2,606-acre tract of beautiful park land that is the largest open space area in the county. Since the park officially opened in 1972, the deer herd had been increasing annually. As a matter of policy, the Bureau of State Parks permitted on state park lands since the inception of the state park system. In 1984, hunting was permitted in 73 state parks encompassing 193,000 acres. By 2015, nearly a quarter million acres was opened to hunting.

The estimated count of deer in was over 900 in 1982 The Pennsylvania Game Commission estimated that the size of the herd in Ridley Creek should be approximately 100, based on the recommended statewide average of 35 deer per square mile. After consulting with the Game Commission and holding several public meetings, the Department decided to proceed with the first public controlled deer hunt in the park. The dates were established for November 28 and 29, December 5 and 6, and December 12 and 13, 1983.

Opposition to the deer hunt had been generated by a number of nearby residents and other persons who were opposed to hunting under any circumstances. Bureau officials met with park residents, neighbors, township officials, state legislators, and other interested persons to explain the rationale for the controlled deer hunt. The Game Commission reported that 63 deer were killed on the highways in the vicinity of the park in October, 1983.

Persons who were opposed to the deer hunt filed for, and were granted, an injunction in Commonwealth Court to stop the regulated deer hunt. On November 22, 1983, the Attorney General’s office appealed the decision of Commonwealth Court and, subsequently, appealed to the State Supreme Court. The State Supreme Court did not overrule Commonwealth Court’s stay of the hunt; however, the Supreme Court did require an expeditious hearing on the subject. Meanwhile, the Game Commission held a special meeting on November 6, 1983, to discuss dates for a special deer hunt at Ridley Creek State Park. The new dates for the hunt were set for January 3-5 and January 10-12, 1984.

The Bureau of State Parks held a public meeting on December 15, 1983, with State Park Director William C. Forrey presiding. Following the public meeting, a hearing was held before Commonwealth Court Judge John A. McPhail on December 20th regarding the Commonwealth’s request for the lifting of the preliminary injunction that stopped the scheduled Ridley Creek State Park deer hunt.

The preliminary injunction was based on a violation of the “Sunshine Law.” After the injunction was filed, all provisions of the “Sunshine Law” were met. Judge John A. McPhail then removed the injunction and authorized the Bureau of State Parks and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to proceed without court interference. The new dates for the hunt were then announced for January 3-5 and 10-12, 1984. The regulated hunt resulted in a harvest of 344 deer. A helicopter survey was taken one month after the hunt and the deer count in the park was 202.

The year 1984 began without one of the state park system’s most famous supporters. On November 23, 1983, William Putch died of a heart attack at age 59. He and his wife, Jean Stapleton, had been involved with Totem Pole Playhouse in for 30 years. The officers of Totem Pole Playhouse, Inc., announced that a full theater schedule would be a reality in 1984. The director’s responsibilities were shared by Putch’s daughter, Pam, and actors Wil Love and Carl Schurr.

Parker Dam State Park held a grand re-opening of its visitor center on May 13, 1984. The re- Totem Pole Playhouse in Caledonia State Park has hosted summer stock opening featured demonstrations, interpretive performances since 1952. The present playhouse was completed in 1970 after fire destroyed the original building. programs and ecological games for the whole family. Since the center’s inception in 1976, the park staff creatively used a variety of state and federal programs to remodel the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) dressing stockade into a rustic looking visitor center.

On June 18 and 19, 1984, the Bureau of State Parks moved from the basement of the Evangelical Press Building in Harrisburg to the Statesman Insurance Building at 22nd and Herr Streets. The central office of the Bureau had its offices in the “Evan Press” Building for 10 years, beginning July 26, 1974. In order to celebrate the move to its new quarters, the Bureau held an open house on July 9th. Over 300 people attended the open house, including Governor , Department of Environmental Resources (DER) Secretary Nicholas DeBenedictis, and DER Deputy Secretary Patrick Solano.

It was in July 1984 that the Department of Environmental Resources (DER) adopted a new logo which was designed by the Bureau of State Parks’ artist illustrator Patti Estheimer. The new logo represented open space, clean air and water and was presented in 3 colors -- green, rust and brown. It was in 1984 that the first female park superintendent, Barbara Davey, was hired in central office. Her duties included management of the Bureau’s Concession program.

Cook Forest State Park was the center of attention on July 7, 1984, when a new theater was dedicated as part of the Center for the Arts. The $99,200 amphitheater was built with rough sawn hemlock and has tiered seating for 200 people. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held with DER Secretary Nicholas DeBenedictis, Sawmill Director Verna le and State Park Director William Forrey attending.

The former sawmill was utilized as an art center during Clarion County’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. A local committee, chaired by Verna Leith, continued the successful operation. This project was made possible by a $100,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Performances in the theater were by visiting player groups provided by the Commonwealth’s State Art Commission.

On July 18, 1984, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, Ralph W. Abele, and State Park Director William C. Forrey extended the May 28, 1958, agreement for the Bureau of State Parks’ continued use of Gouldsboro and shoreline as an integral part of . The first 25-year agreement worked so well that both agencies agreed to continue the same format until May 28, 2008.

Pymatuning State Park dam was re-dedicated on the 50th anniversary of its completion in 1934.

On August 18, 1984, Pymatuning State Park was the scene of a re-dedication of the dam after 50 years. On August 17, 1934, Pennsylvania Governor and Governor George White dedicated the dam which created Pymatuning Lake, the largest lake in Pennsylvania. The total lake acreage was 17,088 with 13,716 in Pennsylvania and 3,372 acres in Ohio.

The dam was built to serve a four-fold purpose: provide an adequate water supply for the industries in the Shenango and Beaver valleys in Pennsylvania, to alleviate recurring floods, to assure ample water for domestic supply, and to provide a recreational attraction. Approximately 22,000 acres of land were acquired encompassing 260 properties in Pennsylvania. The minimum price paid for an acre was $48.29. It took a 25-year effort to secure all the necessary legislation. The final appropriation was in 1931 and the total cost of the project was $3,717,739.00.

Today Pymatuning State Park serves as an enormously popular recreation area. The park attendance ranks it as the second most visited state park in Pennsylvania, behind in Erie. It is the largest man- made lake and has the largest number of family campsites in the Pennsylvania State Park system. The Pymatuning (State Park) has more than lived up to the potential that the visionaries predicted in the 1930s.

The banks of White Clay Creek in Chester County near the Pennsylvania-Delaware state line were the scene of one of the most significant ceremonies in the history of the Pennsylvania State Park system. On October 16, 1984, the E.I. DuPont de Nemours Company donated 1,234 acres of land in London Britain Township to the Pennsylvania State Park system and 475 acres to Delaware’s State Park system. The value of the Pennsylvania gift was estimated at $6 million and represents the largest monetary gift ever received by the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks.

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The Delaware portion of the donation was valued at $2 million. The scenic White Clay Creek meanders through the property from north to south.

By action of the Delaware and Pennsylvania legislatures, the new park preserve was created as a bi-state park. It was named the White Clay Creek Preserve. In transferring the property, DuPont Executive Vice President Robert C. Forney, said in his remarks:

“The gift of the White Clay Creek Preserve is part of the continuum that is DuPont’s environmental commitment. It was the company’s intention in originally acquiring the land to facilitate the construction of a reservoir to serve the entire area. Subsequently, when projections showed that there was no longer a need for such a reservoir, we began to look for other uses of the land. Many groups and individuals expressed their feelings about this, and we listened carefully and thoughtfully to all viewpoints over several years. We then decided to entrust the property to the states of Delaware and Pennsylvania, to be held by them in perpetuity for public recreation and preservation of wildlife.”

In response, the Secretary of Environmental Resources, Nicholas DeBenedictis said:

“This gift is more than generous. The White Clay Creek Preserve demonstrates the DuPont Company’s environmental concerns and its full commitment to conservation and preservation. This unique park is more than valuable. It is priceless.”

In a cooperative agreement with Delaware’s Division of Parks and Recreation, the Bureau of State Parks established a Bi-State Advisory Council to serve in an advisory capacity to the Directors of the two state park systems regarding White Clay Creek issues. The Advisory Council, the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, was established with six members from each state with the chairperson alternating between the two states. The Advisory Council was authorized by House Resolution 250 of the 1984 Session of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania and by Delaware’s House Bill 720 of the 132nd General Assembly. The Advisory Council remained in place until 2012, when it transitioned to a Friends Group under the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation to provide additional service to the Preserve.

The 25th anniversary of the state park chaplaincy program was celebrated by the Pennsylvania Council of Churches on June 30, 1985. The Director of the Office of Special Ministries, Reverend Charles E. Dorsey, announced that each of the 23 chaplains assigned to campgrounds in various state parks was planning special events to commemorate the occasion.

In 1960, the first seminary student agreed to an experimental ministry at . Since then the Pennsylvania Council of Churches has organized interdenominational services for campers in the Pennsylvania State Park System. Reverend Dorsey said that during the 1985 summer season there were approximately 30,000 people who attended the Sunday services. Because of the ecumenical nature of the programs, they saw people from many denominations.

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On August 20, 1985, a rededication ceremony was held for the Perry Monument in Presque Isle State Park. The original monument was dedicated on September 10, 1926, beginning with a luncheon at the Hotel Lawrence in Erie. The monument was to serve as a permanent memorial commemorating Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory at Put-in-Bay in the . The Erie Maritime Museum described the Battle of Lake Erie:

“The battle of Lake Erie began with Perry aboard his flagship Lawrence. In the early stages of the battle, however, Lawrence and her crew took most of the enemy’s fire. Lawrence was severely damaged and over 80 percent of Perry’s crew was killed or wounded by concentrated British gunfire. In an attempt to change defeat into victory, Perry, carrying his battle flag emblazoned with Captain Lawrence’s dying words, “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” transferred from the Lawrence to the lightly damaged Niagara in a small boat. He took command of Niagara and sailed into the British battle line. The British had also taken heavy casualties from the Lawrence fire. Broadsides from the fresh Niagara compelled their surrender within 15 minutes of Perry’s transfer. Immediately following his victory at the battle of Lake Erie, Perry penned the famous words, “We have Perry Monument at Presque Isle State Park commemorating Oliver met the enemy and they are ours,” in his report to Hazard 's victory at Put-in-Bay. General William Henry Harrison.

Perry was the first in history to defeat an entire British squadron and successfully bring back every ship to his base as a prize of war. Perry, at the age of 28, was hailed by the public as a national hero for his victory at Lake Erie. Perry’s victory in the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie took control of the Great from the British.

The chairman of the Perry Monument Commission, Major William Spencer said, “For weeks, the work at hand was studied down to the minute details, and eventually the plans were submitted by the state to contractors for estimates. Its beauty of design, its massive simplicity, its stateliness, its sound construction make it last through the ages – all make the monument speak for itself. To my mind, it is quite in keeping with its purpose – a memorial worthy of him whom it will commemorate.”

It is interesting to note that the original construction cost approximately $24,000 in 1926 and the rehabilitation project cost $82,270 in 1985. The Perry Monument rises 101 feet above the water and is the largest monument in Erie County. The base is 50 feet square, while the stone shaft is topped with an eight-foot bronze tripod.

In County, the Bureau of State Parks owns a 3,654-acre tract of land which was donated to the Commonwealth by James F. Hillman in 1968. On August 25, 1985, a model airplane airport was dedicated in honor of former Speaker of the House K. Leroy Irvis. The L-shaped runway extends 588 feet in an east-west direction and 472 feet on a north-south axis. The entire paved airport runway covers 105,000 square feet. Development costs for all of the facilities over an 18-year period amounted to $754,902.

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On October 19, 1985, Jacobsburg State Park became Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center. DER Secretary Nicholas DeBenedictis announced the change in the name and purpose of the facility at a ceremony where the Department’s commitment to environmental education was emphasized. The 1,166-acre state park’s new direction was to concentrate on teacher training workshops, seminars and conferences, as well as outreach programs in water quality monitoring, environmental problem solving and curriculum development. In addition to environmental education programs, the Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center was available for fishing, picnicking, hiking and cross-country skiing.

May 17, 1986, marked an important milestone in the evolution and development of Laurel Ridge and Ohiopyle state parks. At , a new 9-mile section of the abandoned Western Railroad was dedicated to public use as a bicycle . This section of trail was the incubator for the nationally known Trail which, in 2013, extended from in to the C&O which connected to Washington, DC. The original nine miles of bicycle trail parallel the Youghiogheny and offer spectacular views of the river, maturing deciduous forests and many species of wildlife. Developed along with the trail were launch and take-out areas for boaters using the Middle Yough section of the .

The significance of a ceremony on May 17th at was the designation of the 70-mile Hiking Trail as a National Recreation Trail by the . At the time, the designation brought the total number of National Recreation Trails in Pennsylvania to 23 and to 728 nationwide. The trail stretches northward from the picturesque Youghiogheny River gorge to the scenic near Johnstown. In addition to the National Trail designation, the work of the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps (PCC) was recognized for the excellent work that was accomplished at Laurel Ridge State Park. PCC crews completed a multipurpose building, a 50-car parking area and eight miles of new trail. The multipurpose building was built to serve as a cross-country ski concession and warming hut for those using the 20 miles of ski trails nearby. During the spring, summer and fall it is used as a picnic pavilion.

Raccoon Creek State Park in Beaver County is one of the five Recreation Demonstration Areas which were transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1945 and 1946 from the National Park Service. Creek was transferred on September 16, 1945. In August, 1980, flash flooding caused extreme damage to park facilities including damage to the dam and spillway. Because of the damage, the swimming facilities and many of the day-use areas were closed to public use.

After five full years of closure, a re-opening ceremony was held on May 23, 1986. DER Secretary Nicholas DeBenedictis presided at the Memorial Day weekend event and announced that the $4.24 million in improvement projects had been completed. The capital development work included: dredging of 69,000 cubic yards of silt from the lake, repairing the flood damages to the dam spillway, new road culverts and bridges, installing a new beach, construction of a new bathhouse and food concession building, parking facilities in the swimming area and a new maintenance building. Also, in 1986 the PCC and the park staff built a cabin colony with 10 modern cabins. A new comfort station and concession building were constructed in the boat rental area and two new comfort stations and improved parking facilities were installed in the picnic areas. In the family camping area, new roads and five new washhouses were constructed and 100 campsites were improved. Since the transfer of Raccoon Creek to the Commonwealth in 1945, major improvement projects by the Bureau of State Parks included construction of the dam and lake in 1948, development of swimming and picnic areas in 1950 and opening of the campground in 1956.

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The bandshell at was constructed with assistance from the P.H. Glatfelter Co. and the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps.

Codorus State Park in York County was the scene of a dedication ceremony on May 25, 1986, which honored the P.H. Glatfelter Co. and the PCC for their efforts in constructing a bandshell for park concerts. Master of Ceremonies William C. Forrey praised the Glatfelter Company Chairman of the Board P.H. Glatfelter, III and President Thomas C. Norris for the Company’s gift of $30,000 toward the total construction costs of the bandshell.

The PCC project was directed by Park Superintendents Gene Grifo and Harold Bloom. The architectural design was done by Bureau of State Parks’ architect, David Kyper. The annual concert program has been provided by the Lyric Band of Hanover as a public service.

Governor Richard Thornburgh, joined by fourth-grade students from Franklin Township Elementary School, officially opened a new nature center at in Carbon County on June 5, 1986. The nature center was constructed by 17 PCC members. During the 18-month construction period, the PCC members received training in blueprint reading, landscaping, carpentry, masonry, use of power tools and environmental resource management.

The nature center was designed to serve as a base for the park’s environmental education programs, which included guided hikes, fossil identification, astronomy, and tree and wild plant studies. The construction of the 1,100 square-foot, frame and brick veneer facility was part of a $116,727 PCC project. The project also included the building of a picnic pavilion, maintenance shed, three horseshoe pits, disposal facility, picnic tables and several small foot bridges.

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The Beltzville State Park nature center was one of five new centers which were built by the PCC. The other four nature centers were located at Greenwood Furnace State Park, Huntingdon County; Keystone State Park, Westmoreland County; , Tioga County; and Ryerson Station State Park, Greene County. With the completion of these projects, the state park system had a total of 38 nature centers in 1986.

On July 27, 1986, a ceremony was held at one of Pennsylvania’s oldest state parks, Pine Grove Furnace, to dedicate the restoration of the furnace stack and two picnic pavilions which were constructed by the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps (PCC). Pine Grove Furnace State Park represents an important era in the industrial development of Pennsylvania, the blast furnace operations of the 17th century. The July 27th event celebrated the completion of the restoration of the furnace stack which dates back to 1764 when its was used in the manufacture of such items as stoves, cast iron tombstones, iron kettles, wagon wheel rims, and cannonballs. In 2014, the Friends of Pine Grove Furnace again restored the furnace stack.

Other buildings related to the old iron-making community still stand, including:  the Ironmaster’s Mansion, leased to the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy in 2009;  office and country store used as a residence; stable, utilized as a concession-operated store;  grist mill, used as a museum by the Museum Society;  the inn, used as the state park office;  and several residences which were originally used by furnace employees.

Not too far distant is Fuller Lake, the major ore hole from which the iron ore was mined until the area flooded. Available equipment at the time could not pump the water out fast enough. Today, there is a swimming beach at Fuller Lake.

On August 9, 1986, Pymatuning State Park had the honor of celebrating the opening of its first cabin colony, constructed by the PCC. The cabins were built with modern conveniences such as electric heat, full and complete bathroom. Seven cabins had two bedrooms and three cabins had three bedrooms. The Bureau constructed 123 log-style cabins in 12 state parks between 1986 and 1991. The cabins are located in the following state parks: French Creek, Gifford Pinchot, Keystone, Hills Creek, Pymatuning, Nockamixon, Moraine, Raccoon Creek, Prince Gallitzin, Ricketts Glen, Creek and Black Moshannon.

Since the creation of the National Association of State Park Directors in 1962, Pennsylvania’s state park directors have been active participants in the Association. In 1986 (September 3 to 6), the Bureau of State Parks hosted the 25th Annual Conference of the National Association of State Park Directors in Hershey, PA. Forty-three of the 50 states were represented by their respective state park directors. This number was the greatest number of directors in attendance in the 25-year history of the organization. Featured speakers were DER Secretary Nicholas DeBenedictis, Arkansas State Park Director Richard Davies and National Park Service Deputy Director Denis P. Galvin.

On January 16, 1987, Arthur A. Davis was sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Resources.

The was added to the State Park inventory when two Commonwealth agencies signed an agreement transferring 690 acres of land from the PA Department of Agriculture to DER. The PA Department of Agriculture had jurisdiction of the farm land starting in 1980. At the urging of four state senators the farm land, which had been part of Norristown State Hospital and then the PA Department of Agriculture, was transferred to DER on May 8, 1987. In 1987, there was displeasure among the local governments surrounding the property with the way the property was being administered. By direction of Governor Dick Thornburgh the 690 acres of land were given to DER for park purposes. In December 1987, Secretary Arthur A. Davis organized the first meeting of a Task Force to study the 690-acre tract of farm land for use as a park.

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The Executive Summary of the Master Plan gave a brief history of the land, as follows: “The 690-acre site was once part of the large land holdings of . By the time of the , the site had been divided into seven different farms, or “plantations.” There were grist mills, saw mills, a plaster mill, and powder mills. There is evidence of former mill sites, dams, and mill races. These mills attracted and supported the first commercial growth in the region, especially for the town of Norristown and Norriton Township. Between 1875 and 1880, the land was acquired by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and developed as the State Hospital for the Insane of the Southeastern District. The farm acreage was used for food production for the hospital and as a form of mental health therapy. It was thought that psychiatric patients benefitted from communing with nature through farming.” By 1980, treatment theories had changed and the property was no longer used for farming purposes.

On August 19, 1987, retiring Assistant State Park Director Robert E. Klingman was honored for his 21 years of dedicated service to the State Parks Bureau. The office at Raymond B. Winter State Park in Union County was named the “Robert E. Klingman Office.” In the year 1987, the first female field park superintendent, Mary Herrold, was assigned as Assistant Park Superintendent at .

The responsibility for the maintenance and update of Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan was transferred from the DER Resources Management’s Office of Program Planning and Development to the Bureau of State Parks on October 15, 1987. The planning unit was assigned to the Bureau’s Recreational Development Section. The Plan was approved by the National Park Service in June 1986 and the approved plan was printed for distribution in 1987. The Pennsylvania Recreation Plan was first implemented in 1965 when the U.S. Congress authorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Bureau had been working closely with the Pennsylvania Game Commission regarding the deer population in the state park system. Successful deer hunts had been held in Ridley Creek State Park since 1984 to control the over population of deer. After a comprehensive study of Tyler State Park it was determined that a deer hunt was needed to manage the deer herd in the park. When the announcement went out regarding the proposed hunt, immediate opposition developed. Opponents to the deer hunt filed for an injunction to stop the hunt. On December 16, 1987, a hearing was held in Commonwealth Court in to determine whether or not the proposed deer hunt at Tyler State Park would take place the next day, December 17th. Commonwealth Court did not grant an injunction and the hunt proceeded the next day. The hunting days were December 17-19, 1987, and January 7-9, 1988.

Chapman State Park in Warren County was reopened on May 28, 1988, after a two-year closure. During the two years of construction, the park added a new first aid and lifeguard station, new food concession stand, new winter- proof restroom, three new restrooms in the day-use area, and a new boat concession and dock. Other work included a new water line in the day use area, reconstructed parking lots, repair to the spillway on the dam, replacement of the bridge below the spillway, and underground utilities. In addition, the lake was partially dredged.

Reeds Gap State Park, Mifflin County, celebrated its 50th year of public service on June 25, 1988. The park was constructed by the CCC and was opened to the public in 1938. It is one of many Pennsylvania state parks built by the CCC.

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On July 26, 1988, Lou Ritrovato, Vanyla Tierney, George Kaufman and Bill Forrey represented Pennsylvania at the “Take Pride in America” ceremonies at the White House. Pennsylvania’s winners were among those from 43 other states attending the ceremony and reception on the White House lawn. President Ronald Reagan praised the winners for their efforts to protect and preserve the environment and thanked them for their dedication to volunteerism. The Bureau of State Parks received the first place award for its Environmental Education program.

In 1988, two state parks celebrated anniversaries. State Park, McKean County, celebrated 25 years of public service on August 14, 1988. The state park was authorized by legislation when Governor William W. Scranton signed a bill creating the park on August 12, 1963. Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Cumberland County, celebrated its 75th anniversary on August 27, 1988. Also on August 27, the Bureau formally opened the rehabilitated Petroleum Centre Railroad Station of the former Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad, in .

In 1988 , Northumberland and Union Pennsylvania received a first-place award for its counties, held a rededication of the restaurant and the inflatable environmental education program at the state level. Bill Forrey, Lou Ritrovato and George Kaufman at dam across the . The inflatable dam, the longest the White House ceremony. in the world at that time, backed up water on the Susquehanna River and created a boating lake of 3,000 acres. It contained seven inflatable rubber fabric bags that extended 2,100 feet across the river. In 1983, responsibility for the dam was transferred to the Bureau of State Parks from the Bureau of Engineering. In 1977, the restaurant building on Packer’s Island had been changed to an environmental education center and was named after Basse A. Beck, a native of Sunbury, who was best known for his one-man crusade on behalf of natural resources conservation in Pennsylvania. In 1984, the idea of a restaurant was reborn and the Basse A. Beck Environmental Education Center ceased operation. In 1985, the building was converted to a restaurant with liquor sales. It did not survive. Again, in 1988 a restaurant was attempted after extensive renovations. It did not survive either. In 1999, yet another attempt was made for a restaurant operation. After a three-year effort, the restaurant went out of business as well. From 2002 to 2015, the building was vacant.

In the spring of 1988 DER Secretary Arthur A. Davis presented his case about the necessity of increased funding for the state park system to the Pennsylvania Legislature at the annual budget hearings. Secretary Davis pointed out that the park system had a backlog of $90 million in maintenance needs. He pointed out that Pennsylvania’s State Park System is one of the best in the country and that additional funds are needed to keep it that way.

The request for funding generated discussions about how to increase revenues. Some legislators suggested an entrance or parking fee while others pushed for resort development. The pros and cons of these ideas were carried in newspaper articles throughout the summer of 1988. At the same time, the Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) of DER joined the discussion and issued a report to Secretary Davis. The Altoona Mirror, on November 7, 1988, printed an editorial that praised the CAC for its recommendations, which were:

1. Opposed to private development of resorts in Pennsylvania State Parks 2. Opposed to an admission, parking or vehicle entrance fee 3. Opposed to commercial development in state parks 4. The General Assembly should provide adequate funding for upkeep of the parks 10

Former DER Secretary Maurice K. Goddard weighed in on the subject and gave his unwavering support for maintaining a free entry to the state parks and to encourage resort development outside of the state park boundaries.

The year 1989 began with a look back at the accomplishments of the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps (PCC). Since the PCC began in 1984, more than 7,800 young Pennsylvanians participated in the unique program. PCC members built 427 new log cabins and rehabilitated 222 existing ones; developed 417 picnic areas; planted more than 150,000 trees; improved 60,000 acres of forest lands; and participated in the reconstruction of Commodore Perry’s flagship, the brig Niagara. For an investment of $54 million, participating state agencies and local governments achieved work worth an estimated $70.7 million. Sadly, the program was removed from the state budget in 2012.

On April 2, 1989, DER Secretary Arthur A. Davis, at a breakfast meeting of canal supporters at the King George Inn in Bristol Borough, announced that Roosevelt State Park would be renamed Delaware Canal State Park. The Friends of the Canal and the Delaware Canal Citizens Advisory Board had recommended the change previously. It is understood that former Governor Gifford Pinchot named the park for his friend in the 1930s. In November, 1988, the state park became part of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.

The 10-year anniversaries of Canoe Creek, Mt. Pisgah and Marsh Creek state parks were celebrated in the summer of 1989. On July 15th, held a dual ceremony for both its anniversary and for the dedication of its recently completed PCC-built family cabins.

Mt. Pisgah State Park in Bradford County celebrated its 10th anniversary of public use on July 22, 1989. The event also applauded the work of the PCC in the park. Mt. Pisgah State Park was acquired with Project 70 bond funds starting in 1969. The PCC members built two picnic pavilions and rehabilitated another one, constructed a nature center building, a composting toilet building, a storage building, and a food concession building. They also constructed six bridges to accommodate a trail over Mill Creek. A dam on Mill Creek created a lake of 75 acres and is known as the Stephen Foster Lake. The lake was named Scenic view of the 75-acre Stephen Foster Lake at Mount Pisgah State Park. after the famous composer, Stephen

Foster, a former resident of the area.

Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County was the scene of its 10th anniversary celebration on August 4, 1989. The state park was officially opened to public use in 1979 after being acquired with Project 70 Bond funds. The total park acreage is 1,705, including a 535-acre lake. The park also helps in the management of the Brandywine Creek Watershed.

On December 6, 1989, First Lady Ellen Casey presented the 1989 “Take Pride in Pennsylvania” awards to groups and individuals for their efforts to protect and enhance the state’s natural, recreational, and historical resources.

During the previous three years, the Bureau of State Parks managed the program for the Commonwealth. The state competition was part of the national “Take Pride in America” program which was started in 1986 by the U.S. Department of the Interior. On July 24, 1989, Pennsylvania was honored for the second consecutive year at a ceremony on the south lawn of the White House as the “Take Pride in America” winners received their awards from First Lady Barbara Bush.

On December 19, 1989, DER Secretary Arthur A. Davis released a preliminary report on its State Parks 2000 long range planning initiative. Davis commented, “The report represents an unprecedented effort by park professionals, community and environmental leaders, and the general public to identify and address the major concerns facing state parks today and in the future.” The comprehensive planning effort, the first in more than 30 years, involved a series of public meetings, the distribution of 120,000 questionnaires and a year of research by DER staff.

The planning process was initiated, in part, to address major maintenance backlogs and other deficiencies in the park system resulting from drastic staff and budget cuts in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. Nearly 14,000 people responded to the questionnaire. The results indicated that 56 percent of the respondents opposed development of state park resort-type complexes with swimming pools, golf courses, tennis courts and other facilities. More than 60 percent believed that maintaining the rustic nature of the parks was important.

More than half of the respondents favored building more modern cabins, 75 percent supported upgrading restrooms in the parks to eliminate pit toilets, and nearly 70 percent supported shower facilities and water and electrical hookups in camping areas. There was strong support for the creation of a nonprofit state park foundation to help raise funds and to create friends groups.

Deer hunts had been held in Tyler State Park in Bucks County for three years but, in December, 1989, when another deer hunt was scheduled to begin on December 28th, anti-hunt protestors became organized. The Bureau of State Parks and the Pennsylvania Game Commission believed that a deer hunt was necessary in order to manage the deer population. Over the years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Bureau of State Parks cooperated to manage deer hunts at both Tyler and Ridley Creek state parks. The for the deer in both state parks improved greatly after the deer herds were reduced.

Expansion of the state park system in the 1980s was limited to two significant gifts and the completion of acquisition for in Lebanon County. The two gifts were White Clay Creek Preserve in Chester County and Norristown Farm Park in Montgomery County.

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CHAPTER II: 1990s - State Parks 2000, 100th Anniversary, and Key 93

On January 9, 1990, the Bureau of State Parks took a big step to move into the modern communications world with its first toll-free 800 phone number in an endeavor to quickly respond to questions and requests for information about state parks in Pennsylvania. Every staff person in the Central Office took turns answering the number, which was 1-800-63-PARKS.

State park campgrounds made the news on June 22, 1990, with the announcement of the Bureau’s campground reservation system. Campers could reserve sites at 31 state parks throughout the Commonwealth. The fees were $5 for sites with primitive facilities and $6 per night for sites with modern restrooms and shower facilities.

A new 85-site family campground at Frances Slocum State Park in Luzerne County was dedicated and opened for public use on June 22, 1990. Construction began in 1986 through the General State Authority.

Delaware Canal State Park in Bucks County won another honor when it was declared a National Recreation Trail by the Secretary of the Interior. The 60-mile towpath from Bristol to Easton was recognized as the “Delaware Canal Heritage Trail” in a ceremony on June 23, 1990. The Delaware Canal achieved a number of honors over the past several years. The Canal was adopted as an official trail for the Boy Scouts of America in 1976. It was Boat mooring area at the 165-acre lake at Frances Slocum State Park. added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and was made a National Historic Landmark in 1978. The National Corridor designation followed in 1988.

Governor Robert P. Casey initiated his Governor’s Conference on Recreation, Parks and Leisure on July 10, 1990, at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. He outlined the issues to be discussed during the three-day convention. They were: Economic significance of recreation and parks in Pennsylvania, environmental concerns, environmental education, protection and preservation of open space, health and wellness of its citizens, special impacts of recreation on the disabled, drug prevention through recreation, and recreation for the aging population. Other speakers were Lieutenant Governor and Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno. Governor Casey announced his approval of $5.7 million in capital budget funds for state parks.

A major study entitled “Impact of State Parks on Pennsylvania’s Economy” was unveiled in a session headed by Pennsylvania State University Professor Dr. Charles H. Strauss. The study reported that, in 1987, the impact of state park recreation in Pennsylvania’s economy was $562 million, and supported 10,000 industrial jobs and 800 positions in the Bureau of State Parks. The data for this report came from 7,000 individual interviews with park visitors at 30 state parks from 1985 to 1987.

Several state park anniversaries were on deck on August 4, 1990. in Bedford County and State Park in Lancaster County both celebrated 25 years of public service. Warriors Path is a 334- acre park and is surrounded on three sides by the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. Susquehannock is a 224-

acre park overlooking the Susquehanna River. The park provides overlooks, picnic facilities, organized group tenting and horseback riding. There are facilities available for those traveling with horses and buggies.

Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County was the recipient of an official name for its lake during a ceremony on October 13, 1990. The previous year the Legislature had passed a bill which was signed into law by Governor Robert P. Casey on June 29, 1989. The new name, Holman Lake, honors former state representative Allan W. Holman, a dedicated supporter of the park.

In regard to the deer hunts at Ridley Creek and Tyler State Parks, the Bureau worked with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to re-evaluate whether or not deer hunts were needed to manage the deer population. After evaluation, it was determined that a hunt would be held at Ridley Creek. The 1990 deer hunt was the sixth time that the state park was opened for continued hunting. The same type of evaluation was made at Tyler State Park and it was determined that a deer hunt was not needed.

Pennsylvania has produced only one native son who became President of the United States, . His birthplace, near Mercersburg in Franklin County, is now a state park consisting of 18.5 acres which were donated to the Commonwealth by his niece, Harriet Lane Johnston. Through her will she also provided funds to erect a 300-ton pyramid of natural stone for a memorial at his birthplace. The birthplace memorial was completed in 1907 by a 35-man crew. Four years later, the state legislature accepted the gift of the memorial and the 18.5-acre state park. On April 27, 1991, 200 years after his birth, the state park and memorial were rededicated.

On May 17, 1991, the Bureau of State Parks dedicated 5,000 acres of as a Conservation Area in honor of Dr. Frank W. Preston. Dr. Preston was an early proponent of Moraine State Park through his interest in the geologic history of the Muddy Creek area and his dream to create a lake similar to the one which appeared in glacial times. Although Lake Arthur is smaller in scale than the glacial lake that existed 12,000 to 15,000 years ago, Dr. Preston did realize his dream. Throughout the years, the Preston family donated land and financial support for many projects in Moraine State Park.

Presque Isle State Park received another notable recognition at a ceremony on October 2, 1991, when the U.S. Department of the Interior designated the Seaway Trail a National Recreation Trail. Presque Isle State Park’s trail was recognized as part of the Seaway Trail.

Two new pieces of equipment were added to the Bureau of State Parks’ mechanical fleet when a new dredge was purchased to maintain the Delaware Canal and a weed harvester was acquired to cut weeds in state park lakes. The dredge was made possible by the fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Delaware Canal. The dredge cost $190,000 and the Friends raised $100,000 of the total. The weed harvester was stationed at Gifford Pinchot State Park where weed growth in the 340-acre lake was a perennial problem.

On December 10, 1991, there was a retirement dinner for State Park Director William C. Forrey who served as Director from 1973 to 1991. At the dinner, DER Secretary Arthur A. Davis named the Conference Center at Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center, the William C. Forrey Conference Center. Forrey started with the Bureau in 1960 as a landscape architect and then moved to Chief of Park Planning and then to Assistant Director before being appointed Director by Secretary Maurice K. Goddard. He served as Director until December 27, 1991, and then as an “annuitant” until, June 6, 1992, when Roger Fickes was appointed Director. Roger Fickes previously served as Chief of DER’s Division of and Conservation.

The year 1992 ushered in an increase in fees for State Park facilities. The increase was the first such change since 1986. Examples of the increase are as follows: Campsites with washhouses rose from $6 per night to $9 per night for Pennsylvania residents and to $11 per night for out-of-state residents. Campsites without washhouses were increased from $5 to $7 per night. A new fee was added for reservations for campsites. Previously, a campsite 14 reservation was handled at no charge. A $3 charge for campsite reservations was initiated. At the same time, a discount was offered for senior citizens and the physically handicapped in the amount of $2 for a campsite any day of the week.

The 1992 fee increases also included group camping where the fee rose from $5 minimum or 50 cents per person to a minimum of $7 and $1 per person per night. Boat launch permits increased from $5 to $6 and pavilion rates moved up to $35 for pavilions without electricity to $40 for those with electricity.

The State Parks 2000 Report that had been in the works for four years was released by Secretary Arthur A. Davis on February 27, 1992. The state’s first major policy statements on state parks in 30 years presented a vision for the future. The report stated that Pennsylvania’s state parks should continue to be places visitors go to enjoy “natural, outdoor recreation,” and should not be commercially developed. The report was a blueprint designed to guide the park system to the turn of the century and beyond.

Pittsburgh Press environmental writer Ralph Haurwitz described State Parks 2000 as “eloquent as well as ambitious, the 37-page report contains numerous color photographs and is printed on glossy paper.” He also said, “It is not an exaggeration to regard the parks as germ plasm for a new mission of environmental stewardship extending beyond the parks themselves. Along these lines, the report calls for dramatically expanding the role of parks as outdoor classrooms to teach students and adults alike the merits of conserving natural resources and treading lightly on a fragile planet.”

Mr. Haurwitz went on to say, “To a large extent the future quality of life in Pennsylvania depends on a citizenry that is environmentally educated and informed. The state parks provide an ideal setting for teaching about the complexities, interrelationships and magnificence that abound in nature.”

The report sought to settle one long-simmering issue regarding the proposal to develop resort complexes. A majority of park visitors surveyed thought that resort complexes would be contrary to the basic mission of Pennsylvania State Parks. The report did recommend the construction of more modern family cabins and, at the same time, keeping things rustic. Additionally, it recommended the formation of friends groups and partnerships to assist the state park managers with park maintenance and operations.

DER Secretary Arthur A. Davis noted in the State Parks 2000 Report that state park officials had increased environmental education programs in state parks by more than 50 percent in the past two years. More seasonal educational specialists had been hired in heavily visited parks and the length and number of programs had been expanded.

On May 15, 1992, the Montgomery County Commissioners and DER signed a 10-year agreement for the land that had been part of the Norristown State Hospital. The tract became state park land on May 8, 1987. The Montgomery County Parks Department completed a master plan for the 690 acres. DER then signed an agreement for the management and operation of the park by the Montgomery County Parks Department which included a provision that the agreement would be in effect from the signing date until June 30, 1992, with automatic renewal options for nine successive annual terms. The agreement was renewed in 2001 and 2011.

Since November 30, 1981, the Bureau of State Parks had included Bruce Lake Natural Area as part of the operations of . In a change of operations, Bruce Lake Natural Area was transferred back to the Bureau of Forestry on October 23, 1992. The operation and maintenance of the natural area once again became the responsibility of the District.

Following a nationwide movement among the states to create environmental departments, on January 19, 1971, the Department of Environmental Resources was created. It incorporated the following agencies: Department of 15

Forests and Waters, Department of Mines and Mineral Industries, portions of the Departments of Agriculture, Health, Labor and Industry, and the State Planning Board’s Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey. From its inception the new Department had offices in as many as 7 different locations in the Harrisburg area. Each Secretary of Environmental Resources (DER) requested funds to build a structure that would house the department. Finally, in 1990, construction started on a new 16-story office building at 400 Market Street in Harrisburg that was designed to accommodate the entire department. The new building was named for the renowned environmentalist, Rachel Carson. The Bureau of State Parks moved from its rented office space on Herr Street to the 8th floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building in March 1993.

The year 1993 was an important milestone for the Pennsylvania State Park System. On May 30, 1993, DER celebrated the 100th anniversary of the state park system at its first state park, Valley Forge. The park was authorized on May 30, 1893, with the signing of Act 130. The Act authorized the purchase of 250 acres of land with a maximum expenditure of $25,000. Interestingly, Valley Forge State Park became Valley Forge National Park on July 4, 1976, as part of the Commonwealth’s Bicentennial celebration. President Gerald R. Ford signed P.L. 94-337 into law accepting the transfer which was authorized by Valley Forge was the first state park authorized by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1893. Pennsylvania Act 53 of 1975.

State park superintendents conducted many Centennial celebrations at individual state parks throughout the year. One of those celebrations took place on May 29, 1993, at in Somerset County where the event acknowledged the re-opening of the swimming beach and auxiliary facilities as well as the Centennial. Nearby at on May 30th, the state park marked its 60th year of public service along with a reunion of Civilian Conservation Corps members.

Another impressive milestone was the 10th anniversary of the Envirothon which was held at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. More than 250 high school students from 54 counties tested their knowledge of the environment. DER Secretary Arthur A. Davis said, “The Envirothon competition is shaping young people into the environmental leaders of tomorrow. The lessons they learn from the Envirothon will carry them for a lifetime.” Five member teams tested their knowledge of wildlife, aquatics, forestry and as well as a current environmental issue.

In June, 1993, Lt. Governor Mark Singel served as the Acting Governor while Governor Robert P. Casey was recovering from surgery. On June 22, 1993, Singel signed Senate Bill 181 into law. The Act provided for five percent of environmental penalties to be made available for the PA Department of Education and DER, Bureau of State Parks, for environmental education in schools and state parks.

On June 19, 1993, the Republican candidate for governor, U.S. Congressman , from Erie, proposed that, if elected governor, he would split DER into two separate cabinet-level departments. He felt DER was too big to administer and would submit a proposal to the legislature to create the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

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During the early months of 1993 many environmental, recreation, parks, and forests organizations worked diligently to encourage the passage of Senate Bill 393, nicknamed “Key 93.” Dozens of state and local organizations joined forces with state legislators in a call for action to pass Senate Bill 393. It contained funding for state and local parks, recreation facilities, natural and historic areas, and public libraries. SB 393 provided a stable source of funding to protect, preserve and promote those important resources. The source of funds was to come from 15 percent of the Commonwealth’s share of the realty transfer tax. The Key 93 proposal was eventually amended into House Bill 52. Support in the Legislature was overwhelming, with the Senate voting 48-0, and the House voting 196-3.

On July 2, 1993, Acting Governor Mark Singel signed House Bill 52 into law. It became Act 50 of 1993, the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. At the signing ceremony, Singel stated, “The predictable and stable funding provided by this new law means that Pennsylvanians will be able to enjoy the state’s natural, historic and recreational areas for years to come. The fund will give a boost to our state’s recreation resources, which are a major part of our economic development and our natural environment.” Singel also pointed out that DER’s “State Parks 2000” plan identified the need for ongoing funding to protect Pennsylvania’s open spaces and make repairs to and improvements in state parks and forests.

While there were great efforts put forth to convince the Legislature to pass the first part of Key 93, there was a companion effort underway to pass a Bill authorizing a $50 million bond issue. Shortly after he signed Act 50, Acting Governor Singel urged the voters of Pennsylvania to support and vote for a $50 million bond issue for state parks, state forests, and other recreation and educational facilities. Act 50 called for the bond issue as an additional source of funds for recreation and parks in the Commonwealth. The bond issue was on the ballot on November 2, 1993. The voters of Pennsylvania agreed with the Governor and approved the bond issue by close to a two-thirds vote. It was a fitting climax for the 100th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s state park system.

While the Commonwealth was approving new sources of funding for state parks and state forests, other important events were taking place. On June 7, 1993, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, dedicated sand replenishment and 55 breakwaters that were installed off the shore of Presque Isle State Park to help reduce to the sand beaches. On August 16, 1993, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Swatara State Park in Lebanon County to open 3.3 miles of relocated State Route 443. The project was completed in order to allow for the construction of a dam in the future. At State Park in Centre County, on September 3, 1993, a new 100-site family campground was dedicated in honor of the late State Representative Russell P. Letterman. On October 18, 1993, former State Park Director Conrad R. Lickel was recognized when DER named the State Park Region 2 Office in Moraine State Park in his honor for his many years of dedicated service to the Bureau of State Parks.

The year 1994 was one with many dedications for a variety of park facilities. On May 1, 1994, a permanent stage was named the Moore Pavilion at Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County. The new stage was named after State Senator William J. Moore. The value of the stage was estimated at $225,000. Two weeks later on May 15, 1994, Canoe Creek State Park in Blair County held an open house to officially open its new visitor center. Canoe Creek State Park was purchased with Project 70 Land Acquisition funds and was first opened for public use in 1979.

Secretary Arthur A. Davis dedicated the Glens Natural Area in as a state park natural area on June 29, 1994. The Glens Natural Area is among the first of nine state park natural areas to receive the designation, which is designed to protect unique and sensitive resources in state parks. The Glens Natural Area encompasses 2,846 acres and contains 21 on Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh streams, as well as Kitchen Creek. The streams and waterfalls lie within an old growth forest of pine, hemlock and . Natural areas also have been designated at Black Moshannon, Hickory Run, Cook Forest, Ohiopyle, Presque Isle, Delaware Canal, R.B. Winter, and French Creek state parks.

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Presque Isle State Park in Erie County was the scene of another important dedication in its storied history on July 7, 1994. The visitor center, on the peninsula, was named the “Stull Visitor Center,” after Jim and Jean Stull. Over the years, the Stulls worked diligently for the protection of Presque Isle’s natural integrity. As volunteers, Jean and Jim Stull were granted a license in 1960 to band birds under the direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They operated a bird banding station each spring and fall until 1993. As a tribute to the Stulls’ years of commitment to Presque Isle, the visitor center was named in their honor. One week later, on July 14, the completed wheelchair accessible fishing area was opened for public use. The new facility was located on the East Pier and consists of sidewalks, two wooden fishing piers¸ handicapped parking spaces and a picnic shelter.

On September 6, 1994, the dedication was held for the Bog Natural Area at Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County. The Department had designated the Bog Area previously but this ceremony was held to inform park visitors of the special importance of the Black Moshannon Bog Natural Area. It encompassed 1,501 acres and is located in the southern end of the park. Of the nine designated Natural Areas in the Pennsylvania State Park system, this is the second largest in acres. The state parks natural area program is a direct result of DER’s State Parks 2000 Report.

On December 1, 1994, a retirement dinner was held for Arthur A. Davis who served as Secretary of Environmental Resources from January 7, 1987 to November 25, 1994.

The new year began with the inauguration of Thomas J. Ridge as Governor on January 17, 1995. In Governor Ridge’s budget address on March 7, 1995, he followed through with his campaign promise to split the Department of Environmental Resources into two departments. He said, “Some of you may have heard me mention that I consider the old Department of Environmental Resources to be an obstacle to Pennsylvania’s economic growth. The administration has set about creating a new environmental partnership in Pennsylvania. My budget starts by splitting DER in two. One agency will protect our parks and forests. The second will help Pennsylvanians understand environmental regulations and help them comply.”

The Pennsylvania legislature agreed with Governor Ridge and overwhelmingly passed HB 1400. Act 18 of June 28, 1995, created the Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. Former DER Deputy Secretary Patrick J. Solano served as Acting Secretary from July 1 to November 21, 1995. On November 22, 1995, John C. Oliver, of Pittsburgh, was sworn in as the first Secretary for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

Two state parks celebrated 50 years of public service in 1995. On May 27, Keystone State Park in Westmoreland County welcomed visitors to the opening of the Stone Lodge Nature Center and to a great variety of park programs throughout the weekend. The Fourth of July was the date of ’s 50th year anniversary with a special program held at Boulder Field. Hickory Run, Carbon County, was transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on September 16, 1945, from the U.S. Department of the Interior. The park was developed by the National Park Service in the 1930s as a Recreational Demonstration Area. The Stone Lodge Nature Center at Keystone State Park. In addition to Hickory Run, three other parks were transferred to the Bureau of State Parks from the U.S. Department of the Interior on September 16, 1945. They included: in Bedford County, Raccoon Creek in Beaver County, and Laurel Hill in Somerset County. The deed that transferred ownership included a provision that the land must be continued as park land in perpetuity. If that provision is violated, the Federal Government

18 has the authority to take the park land back to Federal ownership. A fifth Recreational Demonstration Area was given to the Bureau of State Parks on October 25, 1946. That park is French Creek State Park in Berks and Chester counties.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a successful program that was initiated in the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The program started in 1933 and it lasted until 1942 when the United States was involved in World War II. Pennsylvania had the second highest number of CCC camps in the entire country with 113 camps. The year 1995 was the 62nd anniversary of CCC camps in (Tioga County) and Promised Land (Pike County) state parks. Appropriate ceremonies were held in each state park.

On June 19, 1995, Governor Thomas J. Ridge announced the first land trust grants totaling $2,925,000 to be awarded under the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Act. The “Keystone Act” was passed in 1993. The fund draws its revenue from a statewide bond issue and a portion of the state realty transfer tax.

Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County was the host for an annual event known as the Sy Barash, a member of Beta Sigma Beta fraternity at Penn State, who died of cancer in 1975. The purpose of the Regatta was to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

The first regatta was held in 1975 at Penn State’s Stone Valley Recreation Area. By 1982, the Regatta attendance approached 12,000 and had outgrown Stone Valley, so the Bureau of State Parks agreed to host the event starting in 1983. Activities at the Regatta included canoe races, sunbathing, picnicking and live music. At its peak, the attendance was estimated at 25,000 and by 1990, the fundraising total exceeded $300,000.

High water levels at Foster Joseph Sayers Lake within in 1993 and 1994 forced the Regatta to relocate to the fields next to Penn State’s Beaver Stadium. Poor weather and low attendance for several years prompted the fraternity to make the 1995 Regatta the final one.

The weekend of June 23-24, 1995, at Bald Eagle State Park, Centre County, was the scene of great activity among adults and students at the 12th Annual Envirothon. The Envirothon is an environmental program designed to engender interest and education in the natural environment. The success of the Envirothon ensures its continuity for years to come. That same weekend, Moraine State Park, Butler County, celebrated 25 years of service with a re-dedication ceremony.

Worlds End State Park, Sullivan County, had a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 30, 1995, to celebrate the opening of a new bridge over Loyalsock Creek. The bridge span of 121 feet replaced a bridge that was built in 1923. Another ceremony was held at Delaware Canal State Park on September 14, 1995. This ceremony showcased the newly acquired Locktender’s House in New Hope. The 19th century building was transformed into the Delaware Canal State Park’s first interpretive center. The project was accomplished by the Friends of Delaware Canal.

On September 26, 1995, a contingent of 45 governmental officials gathered at the Norristown Farm Park, Montgomery County, for an exciting grand opening of the park. The property had been under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Welfare for many years, then it was transferred to the PA Department of Agriculture. A third state agency, DER, became the owner in 1987. Finally, DCNR (the successor to DER) worked closely with Montgomery County officials to turn it into a county park. A master plan had been completed by Montgomery County and the County was ready to proceed to implement it. The officials were very complementary about the close working relationship between the many governmental agencies at the state, county and local levels.

The year 1995 had been a banner year for state parks in Pennsylvania. The new Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was created and funding from the Keystone Fund and bond issue were allocated for park projects. However, in September of 1995, the conservation, forest, recreation and park community lost one of its 19 longstanding heroes. September 14, 1995, Maurice K. Goddard died at age 83. Former Secretary Goddard had served six four-year terms as Secretary of Forests and Waters and Secretary of Environmental Resources. During his 24-year tenure (1955-1979), he more than doubled the size of the Pennsylvania State Park System and added thousands of acres to the State Forest System. His plan to create a state park within 25 miles of every had been accomplished.

In 2010 and 2011, the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation installed historical plaques in five locations to honor Secretary Goddard. The first historical plaque was placed in front of the Rachel Carson State Office Building on Market Street in Harrisburg. The second plaque was located in Willow Park in Camp Hill Borough. Goddard lived in Camp Hill for almost 50 years. Two others were placed in state parks. An obvious location was in Maurice K. Goddard State Park in Mercer County. The other state park location was Delaware Canal State Park. This site recognizes Goddard’s significant role in creating the Basin Commission. The fifth plaque was placed on the campus of Penn State Mont Alto in Franklin County. Goddard’s career began as Professor of Forestry at Mont Alto. Later, he was promoted to be the Director of the School of Forestry at the University Park Campus of Penn State. In addition to the honors listed above, WITF-TV in Harrisburg produced a 50-minute documentary on the life and accomplishments of Maurice K. Goddard. In 2000, Ernest Morrison wrote a biography of Secretary Goddard entitled, “A Walk on the Down Hill Side of the Log.”

Over the years there has been a great deal of conversation about privatization of state parks. It appears that many people were not aware of the extensive amount of privatization that already existed throughout the state park system. In 1996, the Bureau of State Parks issued a summary of the more than 150 private contracts that served the park visitors. The following is a list of the various private contracts that the Bureau of State Parks had in effect:

 Barge Ride – Mule Drawn  Bicycle Rentals  Cabin Rentals  Campstore  Downhill Ski Facilities and Services  Equestrian Services  Firewood Sales  Fixed Binocular Service  Food and Refreshment  Gift Shop/Souvenirs  Golf Courses-18 Holes  Marina Services  Restaurants  Shuttle Bus Service  Swimming Pool Operation  Theater Productions  Train Ride  Vending Machine Service  Wagon Ride-Horse Drawn  Watercraft Rental  Whitewater Rafting-Equipment Services  Winter Equipment Rental

With the newly created Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Secretary John C. Oliver announced a plan to spend $100 million of Key 93 funds on improvements and upgrades to the State Park and Forest Systems. In State Parks, the following is a sampling of the various projects that were funded to improve the facilities: 20

 Codorus State Park - new docks in the marina  - new latrine  Shikellamy State Park - rehabilitation of the controls of the inflatable dam  Moraine State Park - rehabilitate bike trails and the sewage treatment facility and replace roofs on park buildings  McConnells Mill State Park - rehabilitate hiking trails and improve the water system  Mount Pisgah State Park - rehabilitate the swimming pool  - rehabilitate the swimming pool  - rehabilitate the swimming pool  - rehabilitate the swimming pool  - drill 2 new wells for water supply  - upgraded sewage treatment plant  State Park - repair the dam  Frances Slocum State Park - rehabilitate the swimming pool and construct an accessible fishing pier  - refurbish main park road

In January 1996, extreme weather dealt a devastating blow to many state parks when heavy snow turned into flooded streams. Secretary John C. Oliver announced that damage was estimated at $10 million in 78 of the Commonwealth’s 116 state parks. Point State Park in Pittsburgh was completely submerged in water and Delaware Canal State Park suffered damage to canal walls and to the towpath. Later in the year on September 6, 1996, Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County also suffered heavy damage from a storm that wiped out several trail bridges and parts of the bike trail.

On June 13, 1996, Secretary John C. Oliver and State Park Director Roger Fickes dedicated a new fishing pier at Frances Slocum State Park in Luzerne County and on September 21, 1996, the Department dedicated the Halfway Run Environmental Center at R.B. Winter State Park. On December 20, 1996, the Department added the 112-acre Hendrick Island to Delaware Canal State Park. The island, one of the largest in the Delaware River, serves as a natural area and a campsite for canoeists. The island was acquired from PECO Energy Company by the Heritage Conservancy for $400,000 and was transferred to DCNR for the same amount.

In August, 1996, the Department dedicated and opened for public use the first 19 miles of the Pine Creek Trail in Tioga County. The new trail, located on the abandoned railroad bed along Pine Creek, was designed for use by bicyclists, hikers, skiers, equestrians and sightseers. The first section of trail extended from Ansonia, Tioga County, to Rattlesnake Rock, Lycoming County. The trail followed , also known as the Grand of Pennsylvania. The opening marked the completion of the first phase of the trail which was planned to extend 63 miles from Wellsboro, Tioga County, to Jersey Shore in Lycoming County. The trail is managed by DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry.

On January 1, 1997, DCNR adopted new rates for overnight facilities. The rate increase was the first change since 1991. The one benefit that did not change since the inception of the Pennsylvania State Park System is free admission and free parking. Most of the fees showed an increase; however, there was the elimination of the camping reservation fee and a greater discount for senior citizens. In addition, several new weekday and weeklong rates were introduced to encourage more use of the facilities during the week.

The new weekday rate for a Pennsylvania resident staying in a Class A campground was changed to $72 for the week - $14 for Friday and Saturday night and $11 each for four weeknights, with a fifth weeknight free. The old seven night charge for the same campsite was $70. Senior citizens’ rates changed to $51 for the week, $5 less than the 1996 rate. Other changes that were made were: elimination of the $3 camping reservation fee, an

21 increase in the senior citizen discount from $2 to $3; a new $20 discount for pavilions rented from Monday through Friday; and the age for senior citizen discount was lowered from 65 to 62.

On June 14, 1997, a large crowd of people joined state legislators and local officials to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of Maurice K. Goddard State Park. The state park encompassed 2,856 acres of land that includes the 1,860-acre Lake Wilhelm. Eight other state parks also opened for recreation and conservation in the same year -- 1972. These included: Bald Eagle, Beltzville, Lackawanna, Little Buffalo, Locust Lake, Milton, Ridley Creek, and Shikellamy.

Scenic 1860-acre Lake Wilhelm at Maurice K. Goddard State Park's 25th anniversary in 1997.

Many volunteers attended the dedication of the Schofield Ford Covered Bridge at Tyler State Park on September 6, 1997, with great pride and sense of accomplishment. On October 7, 1991, arsonists destroyed the original covered bridge by burning it completely. Between that date and the dedication date, hundreds of people became involved in raising funds to restore the covered bridge. Lt. Governor spoke at the ceremony and praised not only the fund raisers but the bridge contractor as well.

The re-constructed Schofield Ford Covered Bridge at Tyler State Park. It was rebuilt in 1997 after arsonists burned it down in 1991. On September 16, 1997, a new pavilion, located near the mansion, was dedicated at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Cumberland County. The main purpose of the pavilion is to serve as cover for the thousands of school children who visit the state park as well as the many hikers and bikers. As in other projects in state parks, many hours of volunteer labor helped to complete the project.

In September 1997, Ridley Creek State Park in Delaware County was the scene of celebration marking the 25th year since the state park was opened to public use. The park was opened in 1972 without a dedication ceremony because of the extensive flooding throughout the Commonwealth. This celebration was thus a fitting event to acknowledge the importance of Ridley Creek State Park to the community. 22

Gifford Pinchot State Park was officially dedicated in 1961 and the name was approved by the State Geographic Board and Mrs. Gifford Pinchot. The lake had been referred to as Conewago Lake in Federal documents and in some state fishing and boating regulations. Park Manager Gary Smith led a movement to change the name to Pinchot Lake because of possible confusion with Conewago Lake in Lebanon County and in Adams County. Park Manager Smith submitted a petition in 1993 to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names recommending that the lake name be changed to Pinchot Lake. On December 11, 1997, the Bureau of State Parks was notified that the change of name had been approved officially.

The year 1998 began with a number of innovative approaches to state park operations. On May 4, a ceremony was held at in Huntingdon County to dedicate a new timber bridge. The bridge, which included a unique engineering arch, made use of modern glue-lamination technology in its design to convert Pennsylvania and other timber species into strong, durable structural members and deck panels. The cost of the bridge was $567,000 in state funds and $40,000 from the U.S. Forest Service.

Also, in May, 1998, Governor Tom Ridge announced the approval of $2.7 million for the planning, acquisition and construction of 25 rails-to-trails projects. One of the projects was the trail that traversed Ohiopyle State Park and was known as the Allegheny Highlands Trail. Years later, after the trail had been completed from Pittsburgh to the Maryland state line, it was renamed the “Great Allegheny Passage.”

On June 18, 1998, State Park Director Roger Fickes announced a new pilot program to extend swimming hours at 13 state park beaches. The new swimming hours were set 8:00 a.m. to sunset at the 13 designated state parks. At those state parks, there were lifeguards on duty from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The hours between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and between 5:00 p.m. and sunset there would be no lifeguards on duty. All children would have to have adult supervision during the extended hours. State park surveys reported that park visitors were very much in favor of the extended swimming hours.

On June 24, 1998, DCNR announced that the Coca-Cola Company would be the official provider of soft drinks throughout the 116 state parks. The partnership with Coca-Cola was expected to provide up to $7.8 million over a five-year period. The funds were scheduled to be used for park improvements at the Bureau of State Parks’ 3,922 buildings, 73 beaches, 32 swimming pools and 7,100 camping sites. On May 9, 1999, DCNR entered into an agreement with the Coca-Cola Company for ten-year exclusive pouring rights for soft drinks in all of the state parks. At the end of the ten-year agreement, the Coca-Cola Company did not renew the contract. The reason given was that the revenues were considerably below the predicted income.

Another new service was initiated when Governor Tom Ridge announced on July 2, 1998, that DCNR had instituted a new reservation system for state park facilities. The new “visitor-friendly” reservation system had a toll-free number. It was 1-888-PA-PARKS or 1-888-727-2757. The new line was available from Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Credit cards were accepted. The telephone operators worked for AbiliTech, a workforce development firm that trained 30 disabled Pennsylvanians to operate the reservation system.

Three more islands in the Delaware River were added to the Delaware Canal State Park’s acreage when a dedication ceremony was held on June 28, 1998. The three islands were identified as the Lynn Island Group and they encompass 32.5 acres. They join eight other islands as part of the Delaware River Islands State Park Natural Area. With this acquisition, the total accounts for 225 acres. The individual names of the three islands are Gly’s, Frog, and Rock. The 11 islands range in size from less than half an acre to over 120 acres.

On July 24, 1998, DCNR changed a policy at Point State Park and officially opened designated areas for bicyclists and rollerbladers. The new policy was greeted with enthusiasm from the mayor of Pittsburgh and bicycle commuters in the city. 23

Pymatuning State Park in Crawford County was the scene of two dedications on September 18, 1998. The first ceremony opened the new marina at Espyville and the second event dedicated 10 new log cabins. The cabins had a family room, 2 or 3 bedrooms, modern kitchen and a modern bathroom.

In 1998 Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Cumberland County celebrated 25 years as a state park facility. The Commonwealth purchased the Kings Gap property from C.H. Masland and Sons in 1973. It was fitting that the former president of the company, Mike Masland, spoke at the ceremony. The Nature Conservancy played an important part in the purchase of the property and Randy Gray, Director of the Pennsylvania Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, spoke about their role in preserving the land from potential development.

On October 1, 1998, two dedications were held across the state from each other. In Greene County, a new bridge was dedicated at Ryerson Station State Park, and at French Creek State Park in Berks and Chester counties, a new “green” office complex was opened. The building accommodated both the office for French Creek State Park and the Bureau of Forestry’s District 17 office. The building used green architecture utilizing recycled products, cellulose insulation, solar heat gain and natural lighting. It was expected to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent and to reduce water usage by 50 percent.

On December 4, 1998, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the completion of the investigation and cleanup of military munitions in ’s developed public use areas. The cleanup began in 1997, and the Corps of Engineers safely destroyed 276 live munitions and removed more than 6,600 pounds of ordnance-related scrap from the park picnic and beach areas, family campground and nearly 10 miles of hiking, biking and snowmobile trails. The military munitions found in the park were the remnants of the former Tobyhanna Artillery Range, which served as an active military installation from 1912 until its transfer to the Commonwealth in 1949. Much of the property served as an artillery range and impact area during World War I and at the beginning of World War II. The state park had been closed during the cleanup period in 1997 and 1998.

The year 1998 ended on a high note when Joseph E. Ibberson donated 350 acres of land in northern Dauphin County to the state park system on December 9. Ibberson was a staff in the Department of Forests and Waters from 1948 until his retirement in 1977. He created the Division of Forest Advisory Services and was instrumental in establishing the Service Forester Program which aids private citizens in managing their forest lands. In 1962 he started acquiring land where he practiced various forms of forest management. In donating the land, he wanted “to recognize the need of people for healthful recreation and a place where they can learn about the environment on which they can depend for the quality of life.” The Bureau of State Parks developed a Conservation Area Program in order to accept the donation. Upon acceptance, the land became a new park and was named the Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area.

The year 1999 began with the creation of a non-profit foundation designed to assist the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in fundraising and “friend raising.” The new organization, Friends of Pennsylvania’s Parks and Forests, had a mission to cooperate with DCNR in forming private/public partnerships. The new Foundation’s Board of Directors consisted of business leaders, naturalists, elected officials, , park managers, conservancy representatives and officials of groups already working for park improvements in the state. Subsequently, the name of the organization was changed to the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation.

The Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) works closely with DCNR at both the state park central office and local state park levels. From its Camp Hill-based office, PPFF works with field parks to establish friends groups, secure funding, and initiate projects that promote and support outdoor recreation and conservation. Like DCNR, the Foundation believes that a healthy ecosystem means a healthy community and that open space is beneficial. By 2014, PPFF had organized 43 friends groups.

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On February 12, 1999, DCNR announced that it was withdrawing its permit application from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a dam and reservoir project at Swatara State Park in Lebanon County. The Army Corps of Engineers indicated that it would not grant approval of the project. The state park project was originally approved by Governor Raymond P. Shafer in 1970. The concept was to acquire the land with Project 70 funds; however, the fund was totally utilized before the Swatara State Park was approved. The Commonwealth then proceeded with land acquisition using capital budget funding. The total acreage of the park is 3,394 and the proposed lake would have been 753 acres.

In March, 1999, two important land transactions were completed that added land to an existing state park and created a new state park category. On March 5, 1999, DCNR announced that the French and Pickering Creek Conservation Trust had transferred 135 acres of land, known as Pine Swamp, to French Creek State Park. This addition brought the total acreage of the park to 7,509. On March 20, 1999, the Department announced that retired forester Joseph E. Ibberson had donated 350 acres of prime forest land in northern Dauphin County to be designated as the Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area.

The new conservation area was created to serve as an outdoor environmental classroom with no major development. The 350-acre tract of pristine woods and trails was valued at $1.5 million. The area also serves as an outdoor environmental laboratory for forestry and research, conservation education, and as demonstration site for proper forest management techniques for private woodlands in Pennsylvania.

On May 28, 1999, DCNR issued a directive to all state park managers that there would be an extension of the pilot program with unguarded swimming beaches. In 1998, a pilot program was initiated at 13 state parks where the lifeguards were removed and parents were to supervise their children. The pilot project worked so well that DCNR decided to make the policy effective in all state parks except the beaches at Presque Isle State Park in Erie. The policy allowed swimming at state park beaches from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. The policy also permitted swimming before Memorial Day and after Labor Day, as determined at each state park. Between 1999 and 2007, full-open swimming was incrementally expanded to include a total of 23 state parks. In 2008 the 15 remaining state parks were added to the program for a total of 38 state parks that offered open swimming.

Ryerson Station State Park in Greene County held a ceremony on July 21, 1999, to celebrate the swimming pool rededication. The old pool was closed because of needed repairs and the reconstructed pool was a welcome addition to the state park facilities.

In September 1999, the Bureau of State Parks received its second gift in Dauphin County when Alexander Boyd donated 914 acres of forest land. It was also designated as a Conservation Area, the same category as the Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area. Boyd’s intent with the gift was to preserve the pristine ridge of Blue Mountain. Use of the property was limited to hiking, walking, jogging, and bird watching. Bicycling would be allowed only on designated parts of the extensive trail system. The official name is Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area.

On November 18, 1999, Ohiopyle State Park added another exciting feature to its river recreation opportunities. For the first time, DCNR allowed kayakers to “run the falls” on the Youghiogheny River. The 18-foot high waterfalls had been considered too dangerous for kayakers but the boaters convinced the Department that they could run the falls safely. On November 18th, they proved that experienced and qualified kayakers could make the trip over the falls without injury. The Bureau continues this annual one-day “Run the Falls.”

When Governor Tom Ridge signed Act No. 68 on December 15, 1999, he authorized the Growing Greener program that approved $645.9 million for state parks, state forests, rivers, farmlands, open space, community parks and trails. House Bill 868 passed overwhelmingly in the House (166 to 28) and in the Senate (49 to 1). The Growing Greener program was scheduled to spend $645.9 million over five years, $105.9 million the first year and $135 million for the next four years. The Growing Greener Funds were to come from the General Fund ($473.4 million), 25

Recycling and Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund ($172.5 million) and $0.25 for each ton of municipal waste landfilled in Pennsylvania.

Under the Growing Greener plan, the $105.9 million in funding for the first year were to be distributed as follows: Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), $37.5 million; DCNR, $24.4 million; PENNVEST, $24 million; and Agriculture, $20 million. In years two through five, the funding breakdown was scheduled as follows: DEP, $50.5 million; DCNR, $32.5 million; PENNVEST, $32 million; and Agriculture, $20 million. This program was described as one of the biggest financial steps taken for conservation in the history of the Commonwealth.

The Laurel Mountain Ski Area, the first major ski resort in western Pennsylvania was formerly owned and operated by the Richard King Mellon family of Ligonier. In September 1963, the Mellons leased the land and improvements to the Commonwealth. In April 1964, they gave the property to the Commonwealth, which operated it as a public ski area until 1985. The 493-acre tract of forest has vertical drop of 900 feet which made it one of the steepest and most challenging ski slopes in the state. The property was leased to several concessionaires over the years.

On October 29, 1998, Governor Tom Ridge signed a long term agreement for Laurel Mountain State Park with Laurel Mountain Ski Company of Somerset, Pennsylvania. In March 1998, all of the buildings were demolished and an entirely new ski facility was constructed. The six-million-dollar project was completed in January 2000 for the re-opening of the ski area. In 2003 the lease owner, Laurel Mountain Ski Company, defaulted on the loans for the project and the bank holding the loans, Somerset Trust, took ownership of the assets.

In October 2004, Somerset Trust sublet the operation to Seven Springs, which operated the ski area under the name of The Springs at Laurel Mountain from October 2004 to March of 2005. Seven Springs did not renew the lease with Somerset Trust, and the Trust courted new operators between March 2005 and August 2008. Seven Springs and Somerset Trust negotiated a purchase agreement and the assets were transferred from Somerset Trust to Seven Springs in November 2008. On May 29, 2009, a new 10-year agreement was executed between the Commonwealth and Seven Springs to operate the ski area.

In 1999, the Bureau of State Parks entered into a 10-year agreement with the Borough of Archbald for the Borough to operate and maintain Archbald Pothole State Park in Lackawanna County. In 2009, the agreement was renewed for another 10 years.

The decade of the 1990s was significant in that the State Parks 2000 plan was implemented in many ways, such as the development of new sources of funding through a dedicated fund and bond issues. Also, the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation was created in order to encourage volunteers to provide labor and funding for the state park system.

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CHAPTER III: 21st CENTURY - Growing Greener and State Park Improvements

The new century began with Governor Tom Ridge proclaiming 2000 as the “Year of Pennsylvania State Parks.” On January 21, 2000, he said, “Through programs such as the newly enacted “Growing Greener,” we will enable our vast state park system and its dedicated staff to serve the needs of visitors to our state parks and meet the challenges of a new century.” When Governor Ridge signed the nearly $50 million environmental improvement package on December 15, 1999, he said that the legislation would supply much needed funds to address a more than $110 million backlog in park maintenance and renovations.

On March 10, 2000, Governor Ridge announced the first state park projects to be undertaken with Growing Greener funds. The first project was at Parker Dam State Park in Clearfield County. The renovation work was resurfacing of the park roads in the campground, day-use, and cabin areas. Other rehabilitation projects were scheduled at Raccoon Creek, Raymond B. Winter, Moraine, and Ricketts Glen state parks.

The 620-foot long rail-trail bridge at Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County received a national design award from the U.S. Department of Transportation. On June 1, 2000, DCNR officials dedicated the newly reconstructed Yough River Trail Bridge and congratulated DCNR’s design engineer, George Schodowski.

The Merit Award was given to this project after being selected from among 260 entries nationwide. This was the only project in Pennsylvania to win the Merit Award. One of the longest of its kind in Pennsylvania, the bridge was constructed using prefabricated bow-string The 620-foot-long Yough River Trail Bridge received a national design award from the U.S. trusses of weathering steel, Department of Transportation. It was later renamed the Great Allegheny Passage Trail Bridge. due to its low maintenance and natural color.

On July 26, 2000, DCNR listed another group of state parks where Growing Greener funds were used to improve and enhance the facilities. The state parks that received the funds were: Ohiopyle, Cowans Gap, Delaware Canal, Neshaminy, Prince Gallitzin, Kings Gap, and Frances Slocum. A major problem was uncovered at the dam in in Potter County. Research by DCNR engineers determined that the dam was deficient in design, construction and materials used. The 1950s-era dam was determined to be unsafe. On September 25, 2000, it was announced that the dam would be breached and an engineering consultant would be engaged to design a new dam.

In October 2000, two dedications were held, one was a new park office and the other was the replacement of two bridges. On October 2, DCNR dedicated a 6,240 square-foot office and visitor center at in Schuylkill County. Crews from the PCC, along with Bureau of State Parks staff, incorporated the latest “green” technology in constructing the building. On October 27, 2000, two new bridges in Shawnee State Park in Bedford County were dedicated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The two new bridges, costing $1.3 million, connected the north and south sections of the park.

For many years, pet owners were unhappy about the state park regulation that prevented campers from taking their pets into the state park campgrounds. A change of a long-standing policy was made on November 9, 2000, when DCNR announced that a pilot project would be implemented in 2001. Nine state parks were listed for the pilot project where pets would be allowed in the state park campgrounds. The nine state parks were: Parker Dam, Clearfield County; Sinnemahoning, Cameron County; Cook Forest, Clarion County; Oil Creek, Venango County; Pine Grove Furnace, Cumberland County; Shawnee and Blue Knob, Bedford County; French Creek, Berks and Chester counties; and Promised Land, Pike County.

On December 26, 2000, DCNR activated a toll-free hotline for snowmobilers and cross-country skiers to ascertain the snow conditions on state park and state forest lands. State forest lands had 2,500 miles of snowmobile trails and state parks had 346 miles. There were nearly 400 miles of groomed and ungroomed cross-country ski trails in 73 of the 116 state parks. Downhill skiing was offered at , Bedford County; Denton Hill, Potter County; Camelback (), Monroe County; and Laurel Mountain in Westmoreland County.

In 2001 George Kaufman, retired Operations Division chief, and Bill Forrey decided to invite retirees from the Bureau of State Parks to lunch in an effort to create a continuing relationship with fellow employees of the Departments of Forests and Waters and Environmental Resources. The first gathering brought 16 retirees together at a Harrisburg area restaurant. The group decided that the gathering was a good idea and the event should be repeated. The group expanded quickly from 16 to over 100 retirees, encompassing retirees from the Departments of Forests and Waters, Environmental Resources, Environmental Protection, and Conservation and Natural Resources. The annual holiday luncheon held on December 11, 2015, at the Blue Ridge Country Club in Harrisburg was attended by 110 retirees. DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, Deputy Secretary for Parks and Forestry, John Norbeck, and former Acting DCNR Secretary Patrick J. Solano also attended. The retirees celebrated 15 years of enjoyable annual holiday reunions and semi-annual luncheon events. The semi-annual luncheons are held at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center.

Governor Tom Ridge signed HB 678 on May 17, 2001, and it became Act 5 of the 2001 Session of the Legislature. Act 5 named the inflatable dam across the Susquehanna River at Sunbury the Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam. The 2,100-foot inflatable dam was the longest in the world at the time. It contained seven bags that stretched across the Susquehanna River and were inflated with air that raised the level of the river at Sunbury and Shamokin Dam eight feet and created a lake of 3,000 acres. On October 26, 2001, a ceremony was held where a memorial marker was unveiled. Adam T. Bower had been a State Representative for 28 years and was instrumental in the Commonwealth’s decision to build the inflatable dam.

Promised Land State Park in Pike County held its 68th reunion of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) alumni on August 18, 2001. The CCC Camp was number S-139. Promised Land State Park held many such reunions. The former members contributed to the CCC Museum and blacksmith shop within the park.

On Monday, September 24, 2001, former U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., hosted a celebration at White Clay Creek Preserve commemorating the designation of the White Clay Creek National Wild and Scenic River. White Clay Creek is a bi-state park with the Delaware State Park System.

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On October 4, 2001, Governor Tom Ridge committed $25 million in capital budget funds to build the Presque Isle Center outside the entrance to Presque Isle State Park. Situated on a bluff overlooking Presque Isle Bay, the 60,000 square foot facility was proposed as a learning center to focus on wildlife, plants, water, geology, history of Presque Isle and the Lake Erie Region, the lighthouse in the park and research and technology.

The year 2001 had many major accomplishments while investing $60 million of Growing Greener funds in about 300 state park and state forest construction projects. The following projects were completed in 2001:

 A 23-mile segment of the Pine Creek Trail from Rattlesnake Rock to Waterville in Lycoming County.  20 miles of trail resurfacing and two restroom facilities at Delaware Canal State Park, Bucks County.  The restoration of the historic Tohickon Aqueduct at Delaware Canal State Park.  Rehabilitation of 19 miles of trail and five bridges at in Carbon County.  Construction of new offices and visitor centers at Worlds End and Ricketts Glen state parks in Sullivan and Luzerne counties.  Marina expansion at Pymatuning State Park in Crawford County.

The year 2002 began with the donation of land for the Bureau of State Parks’ third Conservation Area. Dr. Mead Shaffer, a veterinarian and resident of Boothwyn, Delaware County, donated 343 acres of land in Wayne County. DCNR Secretary John C. Oliver announced the gift on January 4, 2002, and that it was named the . The Varden Conservation Area was assigned to Promised Land State Park for management purposes. Dr. Shaffer requested that the new conservation area be named after a small nearby town named Varden.

After intensive study by the Bureau of State Parks, on March 14, 2002, DCNR announced that boating horsepower limits at six state park lakes would change from 10 horsepower to 18 horsepower. The pilot program for outboard motor boats would be effective at Lake Marburg, Codorus State Park; Lake Wilhelm, Maurice K. Goddard State Park; Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park; Lake Nockamixon, Nockamixon State Park; Glendale Lake, Prince Gallitzin State Park; and Yellow Creek Lake, . After a successful pilot program, the change was made permanent in 2003 at 20 horsepower.

On May 3, 2002, Ricketts Glen State Park in Luzerne County held a dedication ceremony as its new park office and visitor center was opened for public use. On July 25, 2002, DCNR Secretary John C. Oliver announced that major improvement projects totaling nearly $14.3 million at 18 state parks were started in the summer of 2002. He also said that during the Ridge-Schweiker administration more than $250 million were invested in state parks and forests. He identified two projects that were going to be underway in the summer of 2002. They were: $2.6 for Cowans Gap State Park, Fulton County, and $2.1 million for a new swimming pool at Little Buffalo State Park, Perry County.

On August 1, 2002, DCNR announced that the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy (CPC) had acquired 80 acres of woodland and was transferring it to be added to the Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area. The CPC raised the necessary funds from a Land Trust grant and from its own fundraising efforts.

On August 31, 2002, hosted the Ole Bull Colony Sesquicentennial Celebration. September 2002 marked the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the famed Norwegian violinist Ole Bull, who sought to establish a major Scandinavian settlement in Potter County. Apparently, Bull’s hope was that his colony would blossom into a series of major cities that would become a “New Norway” in the Pennsylvania mountains. Bull’s dreams were never realized as the 300-500 colonists found that Potter County was not conducive to farming. All but a handful of Norwegians left the colony by 1854. The Commonwealth established Ole Bull State Park in 1925 as a memorial to the famous Norwegian.

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In the Fall of 2002, there were dedication ceremonies at a number of state parks. On September 13, Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County opened the new beach house and visitor center and, on October 15, Maurice K. Goddard State Park in Mercer County opened its all-purpose trail for public use. On October 22, Gifford Pinchot State Park in York County dedicated the new lakefront and picnicking facilities at the Quaker Race Day Use Area and on October 31, Fort Washington State Park in Montgomery County rededicated the Militia Hill Day Use Area. Worlds End State Park in Sullivan County opened its new park office and visitor center on November 12. Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center in Cumberland County dedicated the new education building and mansion rehabilitation on November 19, 2002. On November 21, 2002, Parker Dam State Park in Clearfield County opened its new visitor center and lakefront upgrades, and on November 22, 2002, Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon County offered the same improvements, a new visitor center and lakefront upgrades.

On December 16, 2002, DCNR unveiled the master plan for Swatara State Park in Lebanon County. The park land was The mansion at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center after completion of an extensive rehabilitation project. acquired beginning in the 1970s and completed in 1987. The master plan was produced based on the decision that was made in 2000 that the dam construction would not be included in the plan. The master plan included such facilities as multi-use trails, campsites and cabins, swimming pool, visitor center and office, canoe launches, comfort stations, and avian boardwalks, amphitheater, meadow management areas and reforestation areas. It also included improvement to support the Appalachian Trail, parking, equestrian trail and a maintenance facility.

The year 2002 ended with a tribute to former Governor Tom Ridge. Governor Ridge had resigned to accept an offer from President George W. Bush to be the first Secretary of Homeland Security. Governor Mark Schweiker announced on December 30, 2002, that he was re-naming The Presque Isle Center as The Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle. The contractor for the new facility started work in October, 2002.

In January 2003 Edward G. Rendell was sworn in as Governor and he quickly selected Michael DiBeradinis to be the Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. As the former Philadelphia Commissioner of Recreation, DiBeradinis gained a reputation as a strong manager and administrator whose commitment to natural resources using innovative strategies was well known.

In 2003, leaders from Pennsylvania’s rural counties joined forces with the Commonwealth to form a unique partnership called Pennsylvania Wilds. The idea was to work with state officials, federal agencies, small businesses, local citizens and non-profit organizations to grow the region’s nature industry. The concept was to revitalize the local communities, create lasting economic opportunities and improve the quality of life, while trying to instill a stewardship ethic in visitors and residents. The area of Pennsylvania Wilds included 12 counties in north central Pennsylvania as well as 29 state parks and eight state forests. 30

At the same time, in January 2003, the Bureau of State Parks established the Louis Ritrovato Environmental Education Award. The annual award was created to recognize an individual or group from within or outside the Bureau who had demonstrated outstanding achievement, dedication, and/or performance in environmental education or environmental interpretation. The Award was named in honor of Louis Ritrovato for his contributions in establishing the Bureau of State Parks environmental education program from 1970 to 1992. The State Parks environmental education program was one of the most outstanding in the nation.

On April 15, 2003, DCNR received an honor for the design of the Tohickon Aqueduct at Delaware Canal State Park. The honor was a first-place award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was called the 2002 National Timber Bridge Award for Rehabilitation of an Existing Bridge. The purpose of the award was to promote the use of wood and wood products in transportation projects. At the same time, DCNR acquired a 150-acre quarry that was added to Delaware Canal State Park. It is noteworthy that the state park is a National Historic Landmark and was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1990.

On May 19 and 20, 2003, the 20th Annual Pennsylvania Envirothon state finals were held at the Mont Alto Penn State Campus in Franklin County. It was the 100th anniversary of the Mont Alto Forestry School and the In 2003 the finals of the Annual Pennsylvania adjacent . Envirothon were held at Mont Alto State Park.

On May 23, 2003, Cowans Gap State Park in Fulton County re-opened after the completion of renovation and upgrading of facilities that cost $4.4 million. The park had been closed for 18 months while the construction was underway. The improvements included a new beach house with showers, lifeguard/first aid room, four new shower houses, four new bathrooms and the renovation of one bathroom. In addition, electricity was installed at many campsites. The dam-control tower was replaced, a new spillway bridge was built, and silt was removed from the 42-acre lake bed. Financing was obtained through the Growing Greener Fund, Keystone Fund and park maintenance fund.

As the summer vacation season approached, the Bureau evaluated the pilot program that it instituted in 2001 regarding allowing pets in the family campgrounds. The pilot project was such a success that the Bureau extended the number of state park campgrounds from 10 to Construction underway at Cowans Gap State Park (2002-2003). 19 for the 2003 season. The 19 state parks that allowed pets in the summer of 2003 were: Blue Knob, Codorus, Cook Forest, Fowlers Hollow, French Creek, Hickory Run, Hills Creek, Lackawanna, Locust Lake, Oil Creek, Parker Dam, Pine Grove Furnace, Poe Paddy, Prince Gallitzin, Promised Land, Pymatuning, Raccoon Creek, Shawnee and Sinnemahoning.

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On July 21, 2003, the Pennsylvania state park system suffered the most damaging event in its history when an F-1 tornado toppled eleven of twenty bridge towers on Kinzua Bridge in McKean County. was created by Act No. 343 and signed by Governor William W. Scranton on August 12, 1963. DCNR had been concerned about the structural stability of the former railroad bridge and had engaged a consultant to design repairs. In fact, there was a $12 million renovation project underway when the tornado struck. As a safety measure, DCNR had closed the bridge to all traffic, including pedestrian, in the summer of 2002. In January 2003, a contractor had moved equipment on the site to begin the needed repairs. The 2053-foot long former railroad bridge had been listed on the National Register of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks.

On October 31, 2003, DCNR renamed the Multi-Purpose Trail at Presque Isle State Park the Karl Boyes Multi-Use Trail. The popular 13.5-mile trail within the state park had been completed with $2 million in state funds. The late former State Representative Karl Boyes was a champion for the trail and saw to it that funding was appropriated so that the trail could be completed.

On January 30, 2004, a plan was unveiled for a new Point State Park in Pittsburgh. The highlights of the plan included restoration of the fountain at the juncture of the three rivers, a café with wireless access to the Internet, landings for boaters and paddlers, installation of steps into the water at the tip of the Point, improved access for handicapped visitors and links to the Eliza Furnace Trail and the Convention Center. The plan was conceived by the Point State Park Planning Committee.

In 2004, DCNR launched a program that was designed to meet the challenges to the Commonwealth’s natural resources. It was called Conservation Landscape Initiatives (CLI). Seven CLIs were identified with efforts underway with a common goal of broadening the approach to protecting the parks, forests and natural resources. The seven CLIs were: Pennsylvania Wilds, Lehigh Valley Greenways, Lower Susquehanna, Laurel Highlands, South Mountain, Schuylkill Highlands and Pocono Forests and Waters.

Nescopeck State Park in Luzerne County had a dedication ceremony for its new Environmental Education and Visitor Center on April 28, 2004. Secretary Michael DiBerardinis hosted the event as it named the new facility after State Senator Raphael J. Musto. Senator Musto had been a longtime supporter of environmental education and it was pointed out that the new center would serve as the hub of park activities in the 3,500-acre state park. Ground had been broken in December 2002 for the $1.5 million center.

A unique ceremony was held on May 13, 2004, to dedicate the Nesquehoning Bridge within Lehigh Gorge State Park. A train, provided by the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad, was used to take dignitaries to the remote site of the bridge. The train departed from and returned to Jim Thorpe, PA.

On June 4, 2004, Governor Edward G. Rendell identified the Commonwealth’s 117th state park when he officially named the 540-acre tract of land along the Lake Erie shore as Erie Bluffs State Park. The new state park was the largest tract of undeveloped land in Pennsylvania along the Lake Erie shoreline. In addition to one mile of shoreline with scenic views from 90-foot bluffs, the park contains mature old growth forest; rare, endangered, and threatened floral communities; an uncommon oak savannah sand barren ecosystem; wetlands; and significant archaeological sites.

Another environmental education center was dedicated at on May 28, 2004. The new facility was built mainly by PCC members. The building included a geothermal heating/cooling system, laminated trusses of compressed wood fiber, nine inches of styrofoam insulation, recycled fiberglass insulation, clerestory windows, and lighting with compact fluorescent bulbs.

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DCNR continued its program of upgrading state park facilities throughout the Commonwealth and on October 1, 2004, State Park Director Roger Fickes dedicated a new office/visitor center at Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County. The 5,450 square-foot structure was designed to house the state park staff and provide ample space for environmental education exhibits. The building cost $1.1 million and was paid for in part by Growing Greener and Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation funds.

The year 2005 started with the largest private fund drive in State Park history when the Friends of Presque Isle initiated a campaign to raise $3 million for the Tom Ridge Center at Presque Isle. The new office at Little Buffalo State Park was dedicated on October 1, 2004, At the time of the announcement on February 5, and named the Roger Fickes Office and Visitor Center. 2005, $1.6 million had been pledged to the project.

On June 10, 2005, DCNR announced that repair work had been completed on the inflatable dam at Shikellamy State Park in Northumberland County. The 2,100-foot long dam formed the 3,000-acre Lake Augusta on the Susquehanna River at Sunbury. Two of the seven bags that create the dam were repaired.

At Kinzua Bridge State Park in McKean County, on June 10, 2002, Governor Edward G. Rendell released funds for the initial work to stabilize the Kinzua Railroad Bridge. The bridge, which was the highest railroad bridge in the world when it was built in 1882, had 11 of its 20 towers destroyed in 2003 when a tornado swept through the area. In 1900, the bridge had been rebuilt to accommodate heavier trains. The bridge was unused from 1959 to 1987.

On June 15, 2005, the Pocono Record printed an article about the sale of Camelback Ski Area and Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark. The facility was an integral part of Big Pocono State Park. The Bureau of State Parks had leased parts of Big Pocono State Park in the 1950s to Camelback Corporation for its ski slopes and chair lift towers. Samuel Newman was the Chief Executive Officer of Camelback Ski Corporation and had run the company for 19 years. The new CEO was Arthur B. Berry III of Pocono Manor, PA. Delaware Canal State Park was the scene of another milestone event on June 17, 2005, when DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis celebrated the completion of the restoration of 11, the only working lock within the 60-mile-long state park. The restored lock allowed mule-drawn boats to pass through a Delaware Canal lock for the first time in 70 years. In addition to being a state park, the canal was a National Historic Landmark and the towpath was designated as a National Heritage Hiking Trail. The canal was also a vital part of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and State Heritage Park. Lock 11 in Delaware Canal State Park. Promised Land State Park in Pike County, one of the oldest in the system, celebrated its 100th year of public service on June 25, 2005, with a Centennial Celebration Day. The Secretary of DCNR and the Bureau Directors of Forestry 33 and State Parks spoke at the ceremony as many park visitors enjoyed the activities of the day. Promised Land State Park was the location of a very active CCC Camp during the 1930s and many of the structures that they built were still in use at the time of the ceremony.

On July 13, 2005, Governor Edward G. Rendell signed into law Growing Greener II, Act 45 of 2005. The new law determined how the $625 million environmental bond approved by the voters in May of 2005 was to be distributed.

The provisions of Act 45 were to implement the $625 million bond. Borrowing was to occur over six years, with the bond proceeds allocated as follows:

 $230 million to the Department of Environmental Protection (at least $60 million for mine drainage and mine reclamation; $10 million annually for the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association; and $5 million annually for brownfields remediation)  $217.5 million to DCNR (at least $100 million for state park/forest improvements; $90 million for open space conservation)  $80 million to PA Department of Agriculture for farmland preservation  $50 million to PA Department of Community and Economic Development for Main Street and downtown redevelopment related to smart growth  $27.5 million to PA Fish and Boat Commission  $20 million to PA Game Commission

On August 8, 2005, work began at Ryerson Station State Park in Greene County to remove a portion of the dam spillway on the 62-acre Duke Lake. The reason for the action was to prevent the filling of the lake back to normal level after the determination had been made that the dam structure had been damaged. The lake draw down protected downstream residents. The cause of the damage to the dam was under investigation. The 1,164-acre state park had opened for public use in 1967.

The year 2005 ended with a positive action at Codorus State Park in York County when a 117-acre farm was added to the park acreage. The property was once the site of the Mary Ann Furnace Ironworks, where cannonballs were manufactured for the Revolutionary War. The Farm and Natural Lands Trust purchased the property with the provision that DCNR would purchase the property from them in 2006.

On May 5, 2006, Parker Dam State Park in Clearfield County renamed the CCC Museum after Lou and Helen Adams. The Adams were dedicated volunteers at the state park and were instrumental in setting up the museum at Parker Dam State Park. The renaming was a fitting tribute to their many years of active support of the CCC Museum.

Presque Isle State Park in Erie County held the grand opening of the 65,000-square-foot Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle on May 26, 2006. The $31 million silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building included five indoor classrooms, a research wing, 75- foot glass-enclosed tower, 175-seat large format theater, a nature shop, a 60-seat orientation theater, a visitor 34 service center and The Sunset Café where visitors can buy a snack or box lunch to take to the park. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) sits on a 12-acre parcel on the bluff overlooking Lake Erie.

In June 2006, the Bureau of State Parks leadership transitioned. Roger Fickes retired on June 23, 2006, after 14 years as State Park Director and 35-years total service to DER and DCNR. His successor was John W. Norbeck who started on June 12, 2006. Norbeck had served previously for 29 years in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ State Forest and Park Service.

The last week of June 2006 was a disastrous one for state parks as heavy rains caused flooding in 46 of the 67 counties of Pennsylvania. Governor Edward G. Rendell stated that high water affecting state park beaches, pools, trails, roads and camping areas caused the closure of 16 state parks. As usual, Delaware Canal State Park suffered severe damage. The following state park facilities were closed while repairs were made:

 Beltzville State Park beach, Carbon County;  Caledonia State Park pool, Franklin County;  Delaware Canal State Park, Bucks and Northampton counties;  Frances Slocum State Park pool, Luzerne County;  Gifford Pinchot State Park beaches, York County;  Greenwood Furnace State Park beach, Huntingdon County;  Hickory Run State Park, Carbon County;  Kooser State Park beach, Somerset County;  Lehigh Gorge State Park, Carbon and Luzerne counties;  Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Cumberland County;  Shikellamy State Park, Union and Northumberland counties;  Tobyhanna State Park beach, Monroe and Wayne counties;  Tuscarora State Park beach, Schuylkill County;  beach, Huntingdon County; and  Worlds End State Park beach, Sullivan County.

On July 28, 2006, Governor Edward G. Rendell put an end to a great debate over the proposal to build a modern lodge on the newly acquired Erie Bluffs State Park. There had been pros and cons on the concept of building a lodge at Erie Bluffs. A coalition of environmental groups had been very much against the idea and Governor Rendell stated, “I agree with your position. We will discontinue our plans to build a nature lodge at Erie Bluffs State Park.”

Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon County was fortunate to have a very active Friends of Greenwood Furnace Group, and on August 5, 2006, a new high capacity pavilion was dedicated. The project was the result of the “Friends” and local businesses who donated funds and expertise to complete the new pavilion. The friends are one of many chapters of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation.

On October 6, 2006, DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis dedicated a new raptor viewing platform in Fort Washington State Park in Montgomery County. The new raptor observation platform was made possible by the Friends of Fort Washington State Park. The dedication was timed at the height of the fall migration when millions of migratory birds travel south to their winter residences.

In November 2006, DCNR finalized an agreement to purchase the privately owned 91-acre Little Buffalo Family Campground adjacent to Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County. The Department paid $1.5 million for the campground which changes the total state park acreage to 923 acres. Park Manager Harold Bloom said that

35 camping was the one facility that was missing at Little Buffalo State Park. The new facility, which included 40 camping sites, 5 small cabins and one large cabin, was opened for public use on March 30, 2007.

In January 2007, Board Member Clifford L. Jones announced that the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) had established an awards program to recognize the hard work of the “friends groups” of state parks and state forests and to recognize both a state park and state forest for their innovative and exemplary work. Included in the awards is the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation Keystone Legacy Award – the top honor given to a group, individual, or business that had made an outstanding contribution to the enhancement of the state park or state forest system in Pennsylvania. For the first year of the Keystone Legacy Award, PPFF honored the living Civilian Conservation Corps members that served in Pennsylvania in the 1930s and 1940s.

Laurel Lake at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County reopened for public use on June 25, 2007, after dam repairs and silt removal had been completed. The lake was drained in September 2006 in order to allow for dam repairs and silt removal to take place. The 25-acre Laurel Lake had 31,000 cubic yards of silt removed from the lake bottom. Sedimentation had reduced lake depths to less than one foot in some areas.

The Bureau of State Parks initiated a new program in 2007 when it offered a 16-month color calendar for sale. Beginning with September 2007 and running through December 2008, each month highlighted a beautiful picture of one of Pennsylvania’s state parks. The calendar sold for $8.95, tax included.

The Bureau of State Parks announced that state parks that were open to hunting were also open for goose hunting in 2007. The goose hunting season began on Saturday, September 1, 2007, and ran through September 25, 2007. Non-migratory goose populations had increased drastically causing crop damage and nuisance problems in residential neighborhoods, park beaches and other facilities. Many state parks had taken measures, including anti-goose fencing and/or the use of loud noisemakers in an attempt to deter the waterfowl or scare them away.

On September 12, 2007, DCNR held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the trailhead outside of Wellsboro Junction to celebrate the completion of the fourth phase of the Pine Creek Rail-Trail. The trail runs through Pine Creek Gorge in Tioga and Lycoming Counties. DCNR invested $7.5 million in the trail including $1.4 million in Phase IV. Most of the funding came through federal transportation enhancements which were administered by PennDOT.

In November, 2007, DCNR announced new rates for state park facilities. The new rates were the first increase since 2001 and would take place on January 1, 2008. Pennsylvania still remained one of the states in the country without an entrance or a day-use fee. Generally, the price increase represented about a 10% jump over the existing prices. Also included in the statement was the provision that the rates would increase another 10% in January of 2009. Camping fees were an exception. They increased by $2.00 per night in 2008 and then increasing by $3.00 in 2009. For example, a rustic campsite would increase from $10 to $12 and then to $13.

Governor Edward G. Rendell announced that DCNR had awarded a two million dollar grant to the Lancaster County Conservancy to aid the Conservancy in purchasing about 3,500 acres of land from PPL Electric Utilities in Lancaster and York counties along the Susquehanna River. The acreage was an important part of a large greenway that stretched along the Susquehanna River in York and Lancaster counties.

On January 10, 2008, DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis announced that, with the exception of Presque Isle State Park in Erie, all swimming beaches at state park lakes would implement an open swim policy. The open swim policy allowed swimming opportunities beyond the hours and seasons during which lifeguards were available. It was a policy of swim at your own risk. The beaches were to be patrolled and monitored by state park staff. The use of lifeguards was continued at state park swimming pools as well as at Presque Isle State Park beaches.

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On February 12, 2008, DCNR announced that the dam repairs at Gouldsboro State Park in Monroe and Wayne counties had been completed. The lake had been drawn down for three years while the dam and spillway repairs were underway. The project cost $861,000 and allowed the impoundment of water to re-create a lake of 250 acres. The dam was built in 1895 by the North Jersey & Pocono Mountain Ice Co. From 1956 to 2003, the PA Fish and Boat Commission owned the impoundment at the 2800-acre park. The Commission transferred ownership to DCNR in 2003. The project included spillway replacement; installation of culvert, fencing and erosion-control material; and debris and vegetation removal. The state park initially opened for visitors in 1958.

Pennsylvania was honored with the Phoenix Award, a national award from the Society of American Travel Writers, on February 14, 2008. The award was given as a result of the highly successful Pennsylvania Wilds initiative. The award stated that “The Pennsylvania Wilds is a truly unique model of how to blend tourism, economic development and protection of our natural resources to help communities revitalize and, at the same time, offer visitors an authentic outdoor experience.” PA Wilds covered Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, , Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga and Warren counties and was initiated in 2003. The chair of the Phoenix Award Committee said, “In my seven years as a member of the Phoenix Awards Committee, few nominees ever received unanimous approval. Pennsylvania Wilds was one of the few to do so.” The estimated number of leisure visitors to the PA Wilds increased from 3.5 million to 3.9 million from 2004 to 2006.

Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County was also honored for its unique situation of being one of the darkest places on the East Coast. It’s perfect for stargazing. On a clear night, you could see 10,000 stars and their constellations. In 2008, the International Dark Sky Association named Cherry Springs State Park the first Dark Sky Park in the eastern United States and the second in the world ranked as Gold Tier. It has been described as the best site for stargazing east of the Mississippi River. Park programs take place in an amphitheater area with benches and concrete pads for telescopes.

The honor that was given to Cherry Springs State Park was, in a large part, due to the efforts of the local Dark Sky Fund Association. One of its projects, in 2010, was the planting of 1,700 trees to shield the park from light pollution from cars and trucks traveling along PA Route 44. The Association also performed outreach to educate business owners and home owners on low impact lighting, leading to reduced light pollution.

The Countryside Conservancy announced on February 28, 2008, that it was transferring a 34-acre tract of land as an addition to Lackawanna State Park in Lackawanna County. The Countryside Conservancy was instrumental in acquiring the land prior to DCNR’s purchase. The new acquisition was known in the area as Trostle Pond. The 34-acre addition cost $226,000.00.

On April 7, 2008, French Creek State Park in Berks and Chester counties was the recipient of 45 acres of additional land. The new acquisition was a gift to DCNR from North Coventry Township in Chester County. The gift enlarged the park to 7,526 acres, ranking it ninth among DCNR’s 117 state parks. The property was known as “Sheepstank” or “Brown Tract” and was largely mature forest on a hilltop overlooking rolling hills and small stream valleys in the park’s Millers Point low-density, public use area.

Moraine State Park in Butler County announced on April 28, 2008, that the Wild Waterways Conservancy had donated a 10-acre tract of land that expanded the adjoining Natural Area. Popularly known as the “Taggart Tract,” the parcel had largely old fields which were to serve as a buffer against development and for groundwater protection and recharge. With the additional land, Moraine State Park’s 16,702 acres ranked it as the third largest in the state park system.

On May 2, 2008, in Bucks County was the scene of a ceremony when owner Christina Lurie cut the ribbon on Eagles Forest, a 6.5-acre site to help offset the team’s carbon footprint, restore wildlife habitat and enhance public recreation. In the spring of 2008, volunteers and state park staff 37 planted 1,200 trees and shrubs in Eagles Forest, including 58 trees that were purchased by Eagles fans. Two of the acres were planted in partnership with the Conservation Fund’s GoZeroSM program.

Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County announced on May 19, 2008, that it had purchased a propane-powered lawn mower in a move to become more environmentally friendly. Also, the park management added a wind turbine that powered an environmental classroom; converted park buildings to incorporate better lighting, window placement, insulation, more efficient water heating systems and conversion to low energy compact fluorescent bulbs; and initiated a program of planting with native species at the environmental learning classroom building to show others how they can reduce mowing, watering and fertilizing.

On May 30, 2008, the Commonwealth announced that the first phase of major improvements to Point State Park in Pittsburgh was completed. The $7.1 million project included renovations to the reflecting pool mechanical systems, a new stage pad, electric and water hookups for vendors at events, new irrigation, drainage and electrical systems, and a new lawn area on the city side of the park. This work began in the fall of 2006, with funding from the state’s capital budget.

After seven years of demolition and construction at Lyman Run State Park in Potter County, a dedication ceremony was held on June 5, 2008, marking the completion of a new dam. The old dam was breached in 2000 and $17 million later, the 50-foot high, 1,000-foot long earthen dam backed up water to create a lake of 45 acres. The 595-acre state park was the leading tourist attraction in Potter County.

For the second time, the Bureau of State Parks offered visitors a chance to enjoy winter rest and relaxation by booking rustic and modern cabins at 23 state parks at discounted rates. The new program was called “Cabin Fever” lodging promotion. The announcement was issued on December 29, 2008, and was in effect Sundays through Thursdays in January and February 2009. If the park visitors stayed from Thursday to Sunday, they received Sunday night free of charge. This same promotion was offered the previous year.

2008 marked the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Act, which created a network of scenic, historic, and recreational trails. In 2008, Pennsylvania had three scenic trails and 49 recreation trails. The Secretary of the Interior designated 40 new National Recreation Trails in 22 states in 2007. One new trail was designated in Pennsylvania. It was the Schuylkill Trail at Schuylkill Banks, located on the east side of the . French Creek State Park was the recipient of 28 acres of land in North Coventry Township, Chester County, according to an announcement made by the park manager on February 3, 2009. French Creek State Park added 45 acres in 2008. The land transfer was made possible by the Natural Lands Trust, Inc.

In 2008, DCNR implemented an open swim policy at all state park lake swimming areas, except for Presque Isle State Park beaches. Also, one state park swimming area, Fuller Lake at Pine Grove Furnace State park, was not the standard beach design. Originally excavated for iron ore when the furnaces operated in the late 1800s. Fuller Lake had a depth of 30 to 40 feet. Because of safety concerns, DCNR announced on February 17, 2009, that lifeguards would continue to be on duty for swimming at that lake as well.

On March 5, 2009, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis resigned and was replaced by John Quigley. Quigley was named Acting Secretary and was confirmed on April 23, 2009.

With construction underway at Point State Park in Pittsburgh, DCNR announced on April 30, 2009, that the fountain would have reduced capacity during the construction phase. The peacock sprays around the perimeter and the large water column at the center would not be operational. The fountain was part of a $30 million rehabilitation of the park.

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October 6, 2009, marked a significant land exchange between DCNR’s Pymatuning State Park in Crawford County and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. DCNR transferred 4,250 acres to the Game Commission, which included 1,863 water surface acres. The PA Game Commission transferred 4,816 acres to DCNR, which included its 1,698- acre ownership of easement on State Game Land 283 in Clarion County.

The year 2009 was one of great recognition for the Pennsylvania State Park System. On October 14, 2009, the Bureau of State Parks was awarded the National Gold Medal for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. The National Gold Medal was announced in Utah at the annual meeting of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. This award honors excellence in long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development and professional development. The Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation conducted a 25-park media tour to promote the Gold Medal Award.

Also the recipient of the award in 1976, the Bureau received this 2009 award based on some of its new and innovative programs, such as:

 Get Outdoors PA, which offered hundreds of activities annually for people to learn about outdoor recreation opportunities such as kayaking, fishing and hiking, and learn about how the public can help protect Pennsylvania’s natural resources, their role and why they should care.  A joint effort by the Bureau of State Parks, city parks and recreation programs, and youth organizations to create the Adventure Camp program-a summer camp program that exposes urban area teens to nature experiences. More than 150 kids attended camp in eight metropolitan areas the previous summer.  A “green” parks initiative DCNR launched in 2007 to address climate change and energy consumption in Pennsylvania’s parks. The goal was to reduce the carbon footprint of the state’s parks by 20 percent over the next five years.  New construction work on the system’s first nature inn at Bald In 2009 the Bureau of State Parks was recognized Eagle State Park to expand overnight accommodations and attract for Excellence in Park and Recreation new visitors.

In late 2009, Ricketts Glen State Park in Luzerne, Sullivan and Columbia counties, completed its full scale renovation. At Lake Jean, the upgrades consisted of a new beach house which included toilet/shower areas, concession operation, lifeguard station, a covered porch area, and exterior rinse showers. Also, a new heated day- use comfort station was included for winter activities. In the organized group tent camping area, a new comfort station with electric service was constructed. In addition, a new parking area and trailhead was built at the Lake Rose parking area.

In 2009, the Bureau of State Parks summarized the accomplishments of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) of the 1930s. Of the 4500 CCC camps established across the country, providing tent and barracks living quarters for more than three million men, Pennsylvania had 113. Only had more with 155 camps.

In regard to existing CCC buildings, Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset County had over 200. In Pennsylvania state parks, there were 29 sites in 19 different parks on the National Register of Historic Places because of CCC work that was accomplished in the 1930s. The state parks were: Black Moshannon, Cherry Springs, Clear Creek, Colton Point, Cook Forest, Cowans Gap, French Creek, Greenwood Furnace, Raymond B. Winter, Kooser, Laurel Hill, Linn Run, Parker Dam, Promised Land, Raccoon Creek, Ravensburg, Simon B. Elliott, Whipple Dam and Worlds End. The 39

Bureau of State Parks also maintained CCC museums in Promised Land and Parker Dam state parks. The Friends of Laurel Hill State Park established a CCC Museum in 2008. Also, there were CCC statues located in Leonard Harrison, Promised Land and Laurel Hill state parks.

Poe Valley State Park in Centre County reopened on April 13, 2010, after a four-year closure. The old pit toilets, beach house, concession stands and other outdated facilities were replaced with new, modern buildings, including a campground shower house and beach house with bathroom, changing facilities and a concession stand. New water and sewer systems were installed; the boat launch, campsites and dam were renovated; and a new playground, docks, dam control tower and other improvements were completed. The new boat rental and concession stand were scheduled to be open from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends at the 620-acre state park.

On May 5, 2010, the environmental education center at Canoe Creek State Park in Blair County was named for former park manager Terry Wentz. The naming was proposed by state park volunteers and was approved by State Park Director John W. Norbeck.

June 5, 2010, was designated as National Trails Day. The first National Trails Day country-wide event was started on the first Saturday in June in 1993. Each year since 1993, the national trails celebration has grown. On June 5th, the following events were planned:

 The Appalachian Trail Museum in Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County scheduled hikes in .  The first Heritage Trail Bike Tour was held.  The Schuylkill River sojourn along the Schuylkill River Water Trail started in Schuylkill Haven.  The D&L National Heritage Area trail link from Lehigh Gorge State Park to Jim Thorpe in Carbon County marked the official opening of the Jim Thorpe Trailhead.  Volunteers built a trail to at Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County.

ExplorePAtrails.com was created by DCNR so that hikers could find information about 6,700 miles of Pennsylvania trails. Also, the Secretary of the Interior designated four Pennsylvania trails as National Recreational Trails. They were: Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, from Shippensburg to Newville; the Mason-Dixon Trail that follows the lower Susquehanna River from Wrightsville to the Norman Wood Bridge; Three Rivers Heritage Trail paralleling the riverbanks in the Pittsburgh area for about 21 miles; and the Three Rivers Water Trail, a series of public non- motorized access points within the 90 riverfront municipalities of Allegheny County.

Delaware Canal State Park in Bucks County added another milestone in its colorful history on July 23, 2010, when the section of canal from Easton to Yardley was re-opened and re-watered after a five-year closure. The reason for the closure was flood damage by storms in October 2004, April 2005 and June 2006. The restoration work included repairs to the towpath embankment; removing debris and relining the canal bottom; and repairs to walls, gates, locks, aqueducts and culverts. About 75 percent of the funding was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the remaining 25 percent came from the commonwealth’s capital budget. The project costs totaled $33,000,000.00.

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In 2010 Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County proudly opened the doors of The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle as the first overnight accommodation of its kind in the Pennsylvania State Park System. Each of the inn’s 16 rooms was named for a different bird and featured prints by artists John James and Ned Smith. The 18,500 square-foot inn was designed to demonstrate eco- friendly architecture and green technology. The green features included a high efficiency geothermal heating and cooling system; solar collectors to heat The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle, first of its kind in the Pennsylvania State Park System. water for showers and laundry; five rain barrels and four large cisterns to collect and harvest rainwater for flushing toilets; low-water use plumbing fixtures and high efficiency lighting. Pennsylvania hardwoods were used in the structure, finishes and furniture, and direct access to hiking and biking trails were provided.

October 6, 2010, marked the opening of another first in DCNR’s wide variety of facilities throughout the commonwealth when the Elk Country Visitor Center was dedicated. Located in Benezette in Elk County, the new nature tourism site encompassed 8,420 square feet located on 245 acres owned by DCNR. The visitor center included interactive interpretive exhibits, wildlife trails and viewing blinds, year-round restrooms and parking for cars and buses. The Commonwealth invested $6 million to build the center and another $6 million came from private donations and foundations.

In 2010 DCNR dedicated the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette, Elk County, PA. The Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) stepped up to fill a role when the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) found that they were unable to move forward with the creation of the Elk Country Visitor Center. PPFF, ready to assist when needed, served as an exchange for funds raised by the RMEF and DCNR to construct the new visitor center. When a new non-profit was established at the center, PPFF stepped down from its temporary role. The new non-profit, Keystone Elk Country Alliance, agreed to manage the facility.

The Department of Environmental Protection announced a new policy on October 28, 2010, that established procedures for evaluating the impacts of oil and gas drilling on state park and forest land. The policy was 41 particularly important for state parks in that the Commonwealth did not own the mineral rights to 80 percent of state park land. On state forest land, the commonwealth did not own about 15 percent of the minerals. Sixty of the 117 state parks are located above the gas-rich Marcellus Shale formation. Point State Park is a 36-acre award winning jewel in the heart of Pittsburgh’s downtown. The security and maintenance of the park had been managed by Pittsburgh’s Recreation Department under a long standing agreement that began in 1957. In 2010, DCNR was in the midst of planning a $35 million investment to update the fountain, add bicycle trails, re-design the front area along of the park along Commonwealth Place, upgrade the river walls, and add new facilities to the park. Along with the planning came the concept of transferring the security and maintenance to the Bureau of State Parks.

An agreement between the City of Pittsburgh and DCNR was signed on April 9, 2012, which detailed the future of security and maintenance for Point State Park. The agreement spelled out how the City of Pittsburgh would continue its security and maintenance functions with its personnel as of the date of the agreement. As those personnel retired or transferred elsewhere, their responsibilities would be assumed by Bureau of State Parks personnel. The transfer of responsibilities was carried out with excellent cooperation between the City and the Bureau.

As the security and maintenance of Point State Park were being transferred to the Bureau of State Parks, another change was made in management in Park Region 2. The responsibility of Allegheny Islands was moved from the Park Region 2 Office to the park manager at Point State Park.

The 34-acre Allegheny Islands consists of two islands on the Allegheny River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The two islands were transferred to the former Department of Environmental Resources on December 31, 1980, by the Department of General Services. The two islands have a total area of 34 acres, with one island upstream of Lock and Dam No. 3, and the other one downstream. The actual acreage of the two islands has grown somewhat over the years with silt deposits accumulating from storms and river flows. The park is undeveloped so there are no facilities for the public. Allegheny Islands State Park is available by boat only. Group camping (such as scout groups or church groups) is permitted with written permission from the Bureau of State Parks.

Frances Stein, Resource Program Specialist on the Region 2 Staff, prepared the following history of the Allegheny Islands State Park: “The islands that became Allegheny Islands State Park were once one island that was first purchased in 1788 by Samuel Hulings. The Hulings were prominent keelboatmen of the region and settled in several areas along the Allegheny River. The island came to be called Hulings Island or Lanes Island. In 1864, boatmen were using the river islands for navigation and referred to them by their distance from the Point in downtown Pittsburgh. Hulings Island became 14-Mile Island.

“In 1932, to facilitate the passage of larger vessels, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the Allegheny River Lock and Dam #3 that split 14-Mile Island in two. Now known as the C.W. Bill Young Lock and Dam #3, the still functioning lock and dam are on the National Register of Historic Places. The McDonough Corporation purchased 14-Mile Island to mine it for sand and for building and road construction projects, but the deposits proved to be too poor of quality and the islands were left in the their natural state.

“The McDonough Corporation donated 14-Mile Island (both upper and lower) to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in the early 1970s. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased 14-Mile Island in 1974 and it established Allegheny Islands State Park on December 31, 1980. Originally five islands in the Allegheny River were to be part of a concept plan called Allegheny River Edge Park, including 14-Mile Island, 12-Mile Island, 9-Mile Island, Sycamore Island, and Herrs Island. The acquisition of 12-Mile Island failed due to existing lease camps and erosion problems. Acquisition plans for the remaining islands were abandoned and only 14-Mile Island was ever purchased.”

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Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County conducted an audit in 2007 with data from the previous year using the “Climate Leadership in Parks” tool developed for the National Park Service. A goal was set to reduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent. On March 17, 2011, DCNR announced that the 20 percent goal had been met. The emissions-reduction strategies included:

 Installation of a wind turbine and the use of bio-diesel, both of which were also used to educate visitors about those alternative energies  Using more energy efficient watercraft and lawn mowers  Planting native wildflower meadows, significantly reducing the need for mowing  Use of instead of motor vehicles by staff to get around the park  Used programmable thermostats and more efficient light bulbs  Cleaned with biodegradable soaps  Retrofitted buildings for efficiency

On March 23, 2011, Governor announced that he was nominating Richard J. Allan to be Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Allan was sworn into office on June 13, 2011.

At the Cook Homestead was built in 1870 by the Honorable Andrew Cook, a prominent figure in the Cooksburg, Pennsylvania area. Andrew Cook built his home with the river at its doorstep. It was here that he and his men loaded logs on rafts and boats for the long journey to Pittsburgh. He was most notably known as the lumberman who owned and developed much of the land known today as Cook Forest State Park.

The Cook Homestead remained in the Cook family for 224 years until the spring of 1994, when the Kocher family was given the 2011 the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy began a rehabilitation of the Ironmaster's opportunity to purchase it from Mansion in Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Andrew Cook’s great-granddaughter. The Kochers purchased the property and building when it was then being used as a personal residence by a fifth-generation Cook, Mary, great-granddaughter of Andrew Cook. When the Kochers purchased the property in May of 1994, renovations to prepare the building for a bed and breakfast began almost immediately and the doors opened for operation in August 1994.

In 2009 the Bureau of State Parks purchased the building, formerly known as the Cook Homestead Bed and Breakfast, with the intent to continue to operate it as a bed and breakfast. The building was purchased for $400,000.00, fair market value for the facility. Over the next two years several updates totaling well over $160,000.00 were made to the building to bring it up to Department of Labor and Industry codes. Additional upgrades, such as installing a high efficiency boiler, on-demand water heaters and compact lighting in the

43 basement, were made to protect the building and improve the efficiency of the facility. The Bureau entered into a concession lease agreement with an operator to manage the facility as a bed and breakfast beginning in 2011. The Ironmaster’s Mansion at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County added a new chapter in its long history on April 5, 2011, when the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy (CPC) leased the structure from DCNR. CPC planned to operate the Mansion as a hostel to accommodate hikers and bicyclists. Hikers along the Appalachian Trail were offered a bunk, a shower and a breakfast before proceeding on the trail. In the years following the CPC’s involvement with the Ironmaster’s Mansion, CPC proved to be a welcome addition to the Pine Grove Furnace State Park family of volunteers and lessees. Improvements to the Mansion included the replacement of all windows, repainting all interior rooms, sanding the hardwood floors, upgrading the water and heating systems, installation of a commercial kitchen and re-landscaping the Mansion grounds. The Mansion was built between 1827 and 1829 and it still embodies all of the features of the original construction. The renovations allowed CPC to host weddings, meetings and other special events.

The Bureau of State Parks, in its effort to provide service to park visitors, announced on April 13, 2011, that dogs would be allowed to stay with their owners at selected state park cabins and camping cottages under a pilot program. At the time, pets were permitted to spend the night at designated sites in 47 state park campgrounds. The pilot program in state park cabins was started in the following seven state parks: Chapman, Warren County; Cowans Gap, Fulton County; Kooser, Somerset County; Poe Valley, Centre County; Prince Gallitzin, Cambria County; Promised Land, Pike County; and Pymatuning, Crawford County. The fee per night for pets was $5 for a cabin and $2 for a camping cottage.

In another first for the State Parks Bureau, it teamed up with Gander Mountain to provide first-time campers with needed gear and a reservation for two nights in a state park for $20. The gear provided included a four-person tent, tarp, two sleeping pads, two camp chairs, flashlight, lantern, camp stove, and four hot dog/marshmallow sticks. The program was offered in the following 14 state parks: Black Moshannon, Centre County; Caledonia, Franklin County; Colonel Denning, Cumberland County; Gifford Pinchot, York County; Hickory Run, Carbon County; Keystone, Westmoreland County; Laurel Hill, Somerset County; Little Pine, Lycoming County; Locust Lake, Schuylkill County; Ohiopyle, Fayette County; Ole Bull, Potter County; Parker Dam, Clearfield County; Pymatuning, Crawford County; and Raymond B. Winter, Union County. The program began on April 21, 2011.

On May 24, 2011, the Bureau of State Parks and the Montgomery County Parks Department celebrated ten years of a cooperative agreement that began on May 15, 1992 and was renewed in 2001. It involved management of the former Norristown State Hospital property, known as the Norristown Farm Park. Both agencies agreed to the signing of an agreement for an additional ten years until December 31, 2020.

The National Park Service administers the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) which was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1965. The National Park Service requires that a statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan be completed every five years. An approved Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) must be obtained by each state in order to qualify for grants from the fund. Pennsylvania received approval of its SCORPs beginning in 1965. In 2011, however, DCNR received top national honors for its work to transform outdoor recreation planning and get residents to spend more time outdoors. The state’s five- year Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan was honored as the best in the nation by the National Park Service and the National Association for Recreation Resource Planners and the team received the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Government Award for their work.

On June 7, 2011, DCNR, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation, announced that it was participating for the fourth year in the Odwalla Plant a Tree program. The rules for the program are that citizens of Pennsylvania could send an e-mail which counted as a vote and which it also counted as one dollar for state park trees. In the years 2008, 2009, and 2010, Pennsylvania received $55,000.00 for the planting of trees.

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At Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County, an agreement with the Philipsburg Rod and Gun Club was announced on July 22, 2011. The agreement allowed for the resumption of trap shooting at the state park. Trap shooting had been halted for almost five years because of elevated levels of shot that had been deposited through the years on the 23-acre shooting range which was leased from the park. Under the terms of the agreement, extending to the year 2021, the Club agreed to remove the lead pellets that had accumulated over the years. The Club shotgun range began operating in 1937 and its clubhouse was built in the 1960s.

Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County celebrated the completion of highway improvements in the Borough of Ohiopyle on August 31, 2011. The enhancements to Route 381, which is the portal to the state park, included traffic-slowing realignments, crosswalks and bike lanes, ADA curbing, reduced speed limits, fire truck signal lights and paving. The cost was $1.8 million and was completed by PennDOT.

At Point State Park in Pittsburgh on September 13, 2011, the new Café at the Point was officially opened for public use. Point State Park had been undergoing major renovations, upgrades and changes since 2006. The Café sat on a terrazzo patio which allowed for tables and chairs and unobstructed access to the path around the city-side lawn. The cost of the Café was $670,000.00. Previous renovations that were completed in the summer of 2011 were the Monongahela and Allegheny wharfs.

On September 15, 2011, DCNR Secretary Richard J. Allan invited visitors to a new experience, the Sky Walk at Kinzua Bridge State Park in McKean County. The Sky Walk was a stroll out into Kinzua Gorge on a pedestrian walkway with a glass-bottom observation area at the far end. This innovative project was completed eight years after the famous Kinzua Railroad Bridge was destroyed by a tornado. The 339- acre state park is home to the remnants of the 2,053-foot long viaduct, first built of iron in 1882, and then rebuilt with steel in The pedestrian walkway, known as the Sky Walk, at the Kinzua Bridge was officially 1900. The work on the opened for public use in 2011. observation deck, reinforcing and replacing the steel portions of the viaduct, and installing ramps and railings began in 2009 and cost $4.3 million. The Engineering News-Record honored DCNR with its 2012 “Best Project Award” for the Kinzua Sky Walk. The Award was given for the best small project in ENR’s Mid-Atlantic Region.

Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Cumberland County almost doubled in acreage with the announcement by DCNR Secretary Richard J. Allan that 1,077 acres had been purchased and added to the state park. At a public ceremony on October 23, 2011, Allan explained that the new acreage to the park had been part of the original Cameron family estate that had been split in the 1950s. With the newly added land, Kings Gap encompassed 2,502 acres. The state park included 16 miles of hiking trails and a 32-room stone mansion that housed the center and training facility.

On October 26, 2011, in Cameron County officially opened the new Wildlife Center. The 9,300-square-foot center included a new park office, interpretive exhibit space, an artisan gallery, and 45 classroom and meeting space. The cost of the facility was $3.8 million with funds from the capital budget and the Keystone Fund. The new center was part of DCNR’s investment in Pennsylvania Wilds which included the Elk Country Visitor Center, Kinzua Bridge walkway and the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park.

In 2011 the Bureau garnered many impressive statistics relating to the operation of DCNR’s state park system. Some of those facts and figures are listed below:

 37 million visitors in 2011 who spent $859 million (2010) on their trips and supported 12,000 jobs in hotels, restaurants, gas stations and a variety of other businesses.  2.2 million dollars earned in private partnerships with park concessionaires.  12.41 dollars returned to Pennsylvania for every dollar invested in state parks (2010).  692,736 dollars in revenue for the first year of the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park with 4,851 visitors and 49 percent occupancy rate.  2,695 acres of land added to eight state parks via donation and purchase.  105,000 visitors to the Elk Country Visitors Center from all 50 states and 31 countries.  2,277,976 people visited the state parks website in 2011.

The Bureau of State Parks ended the year 2011 with an offer to help Pennsylvania residents and visitors to start the year 2012 with some healthy exercise. The idea was to help park visitors burn off some of the excess calories that may have been picked up during the holidays. At 13 state parks, there were free, guided hikes scheduled on New Year’s Day, 2012. The concept was part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes in all 50 states. The parks where the guided hikes were offered were Delaware Canal, Hickory Run, Hills Creek, Keystone, Kings Gap, Kinzua Bridge, Laurel Hill, Moraine, Nolde Forest, Parker Dam, Promised Land, Shawnee, and Sinnemahoning state parks. By January 2015, the number of parks participating had grown to 19.

DCNR Secretary Richard J. Allan announced on January 23, 2012, that the Department was forming a new Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee to assist the Department in efforts to build a statewide network of land and water trails. The committee, which was recommended by the nationally-recognized Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, was organized to have 20 members. The former Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Advisory Board was originally created in 1992.

Pennsylvania’s Elk Country Visitor Center earned honors for energy efficiency and environmental design according to a DCNR announcement on January 25, 2012. The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the Elk Country Visitor Center Gold LEED status. That honor was added to the previous Gold LEED status that had been given to the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park and the Resource Management Center in Waterville, Lycoming County.

For many years, the Bureau of State Parks had made water releases twice a year from the Nockamixon State Park lake into Tohickon Creek in Bucks County for white water boating. On March 17 and 18, 2012, releases were again made for the benefit of kayakers, canoeists and rafters. The releases were made at 4:00 a.m. on each day and it then took several hours for the high water to proceed downstream to . The white water created Class 3 and 4 rapids.

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The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is a 70-mile hiking trail that extends from Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County to the Conemaugh River in Indiana County. On the trail is a bridge that crosses over the . That bridge was constructed in 1970, however, by 2009, the bridge had been determined to be unsafe for hikers and snowmobilers. In late 2009, the bridge was dismantled. A contract was awarded to a Pittsburgh firm to construct a new bridge over the PA Turnpike. On January 28, 2012, the $1.3 million bridge was opened for public use. This new bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike connected the Laurel Ridge Hiking Trail. It was officially dedicated on May 24, 2012.

DCNR Secretary Richard J. Allan released the results of an analysis that showed that Pennsylvania’s state parks generated more than $1 billion in economic activity in nearby communities and that they supported more than 13,000 related jobs. The study was conducted by Penn State University’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and was announced on March 6, 2012. The report showed that for every dollar invested, more than $12 was returned to Pennsylvania’s economy. It also noted that out-of-state spending accounted for $274 million in sales in 2012.

The Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area in Dauphin County received a major addition of 422.5 acres of land from the estate of Joseph E. Ibberson. On April 18, 2012, DCNR and the Ibberson estate jointly announced that the 433-acres Alpha Tree Farm had been donated to the Bureau of State Parks. The original Ibberson Conservation Area of 350 acres had been donated to the Bureau in 1998. Joseph E. Ibberson had been a long term employee of the Bureau of Forestry in the former Department of Forests and Waters.

On April 27, 2012, the former Laurel Hill Lodge at Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset County was renamed in honor of former Park Manager Robert Hufman. There were 70 persons in attendance at the dedication of Hufman Lodge.

On May 21, 2012, DCNR announced that swimming in the lake at Kooser State Park in Somerset County would be closed indefinitely. The reasons for the closure were that there was too much sedimentation and algae growth in the lake. The small 4-acre lake was still open for fishing. The 35-site campground and the nine rustic cabins were still available for public use.

The fourth Annual Get Outdoors celebration was held in three state parks in an effort to generate interest in the out of doors by first-time users of state parks. On Saturday, June 9, 2012, Parker Dam State Park in Clearfield County and Moraine State Park in Butler County held special activities and on June 10, 2012, Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Cumberland County also held extensive outdoor-oriented activities. Some of the activities were hiking, biking, and special tips for first-time campers. These activities coincided with June being designated as Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Month.

Promised Land State Park in Pike County held a grand re-opening on June 29, 2012, of the Pickerel Point and Deerfield campgrounds. The campgrounds had been closed while site improvements took place. The new facilities 47 at Pickerel Point included modern comfort and shower buildings and renovated camp sites. While the integrity of the 1934 campground was maintained, it now included 75 campsites. Of these, 12 sites had water, electric and sewer hookups on the site, a first in the state park system. The Deerfield Campground, across the road from Pickerel Point, had 34 campsites (all pet friendly) which were still primitive. The Deerfield comfort station was renovated as was the Masker Museum.

The year 2012 was a year of upgrading communication opportunities for the Bureau in addition to adding buildings and other structures. On August 10, 2012, DCNR announced that it had launched a mobile website for users of smartphones and tablet devices to connect with Pennsylvania’s natural world while on-the-go. The new site was found at http://m.dcnr.state.pa.us. DCNR’s news release stated, ”The new site offers expedient, informative details through a medium we know is being used more and more.”

On August 23, 2012, DCNR and New Hope Borough officials celebrated the opening of the new Ferry Street Bridge in Delaware Canal State Park, Bucks County. The $1.5-million bridge replaced a 50-year-old two lane bridge in the Borough of New Hope. The new 58-foot-long span replicated the historic look of other canal bridges with a stone façade and timber railings and trusses.

10DCNR Secretary Richard J. Allan unveiled a life-size statue of a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worker at in Clinton County on September 18, 2012. The dedication ceremony honored the thousands of former CCC men who worked throughout Pennsylvania in the 1930s. The statue, set on a stone foundation, cost $25,000. A private foundation funded most of the cost with an $18,000 donation received from Joe Weidemer of Altoona. The statue was the seventh CCC statue in Pennsylvania. Other locations were Leonard Harrison State Park; Cascade Park, New Castle; Promised Land A bronze statue honoring the CCC workers was unveiled at Hyner View State Park. State Park; Laurel Hill State Park; Warren County Visitor Center, and the Pennsylvania Museum.

John W. Norbeck resigned as Director of the Bureau of State Parks and David L. Kemmerer was appointed Director on October 24, 2012. Kemmerer had been the Assistant State Park Director.

A study conducted by ICF International on behalf of the Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee gathered data from 352 on-site interviews of water trail users from July to September, 2012, on four of the state’s 21 water trails. The four river trails were on the Schuylkill, Juniata, North Branch of the Susquehanna, and Three Rivers. The visitors to the four water trails during the summer of 2012 generated almost three quarters of a million dollars in economic activity and supported 11 full-time jobs.

The 1,346-acre Ryerson Station State Park was opened for public use in 1967, but the lake had been drawn down in 2005 for safety reasons due to subsidence, the result of longwall mining by Consol Energy. On April 24, 2013, DCNR announced that a settlement had been reached with Consol Energy to restore Duke Lake at Ryerson 48

Station State Park in Greene County. In addition to funding for the replacement of the dam, the company agreed to donate 506 acres of land as an addition to the park. The settlement agreement between DCNR and the company was the result of a two-month mediation process that included the following terms: Consol Energy agreed to:  Pay the Commonwealth $36 million, which was to be used to replace the dam;  Give DCNR eight plots of land bordering the park, totaling 506 acres, which DCNR was to add to the park’s recreational space;  Build a maintenance building for DCNR at the park;  Monitor stream flows and ground movement with oversight from DEP;  Be prohibited from conducting any mining beneath the dam and Duke Lake;  Be prohibited from using any water from the park for drilling activities; and  Not drill on state park lands, including where they were already legally allowed to drill. DCNR agreed to:  Receive an 18 percent royalty payment for gas production from wells under the park, which was to go into the Oil and Gas Lease Fund after $13.7 million had been realized by Consol Energy;  Allow Consol Energy to drill for natural gas underneath the park, but only from well pads outside park boundaries to eliminate any surface disturbance within the park; and  Allow longwall mining under a portion of the eastern area of the park, should Consol Energy receive the necessary DEP permits.

On July 24, 2015, DCNR announced that due to ongoing safety concerns, the dam would not be rebuilt under current conditions. Input from the community will be sought about what features are possible at the park to restore opportunities for local residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors.

The year 2013 marked the 100th anniversary of the Commonwealth’s ownership of Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County. Pine Grove Furnace State Park events were scheduled to celebrate history, leadership, connections to the outdoors and hiking. It also helped to fuel the industrial revolution by housing several iron work companies; it included trails built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and it sits at the half-way point of the Appalachian Trail.

While celebrating its 100-year anniversary at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, DCNR officials announced that the swimming beach at Fuller Lake was to be smoke-free. The ban on smoking on the beach was received with approval from park visitors. An editorial in The Patriot-News of Harrisburg gave the idea a resounding vote of approval. The smoking ban was the first one in the state park system. The “Clean Air Beach Program” was instituted to improve air quality and to prevent cigarette litter. The new program was announced on May 22, 2013.

In 2010, the Appalachian Trail Museum, which utilized a former grist mill in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, began a project to renovate the museum. The project costs totaled $110,000, with additional help from volunteers. During the week of July 14-19, 2013, the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy held the first Goddard Leadership Legacy Institute at the Ironmaster’s Mansion. The institute was a weeklong summer residential program designed to engage 24 promising early level high school students in natural resources leadership and civic engagement.

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June 7, 2013, marked the return of the Point State Park fountain to full use. Governor Tom Corbett joined the people of Pittsburgh to celebrate the completion of a six-year multi-million dollar renovation of the park that normally hosted more than three million visitors annually. The fountain was turned off in April 2009. The central column of the fountain continued to operate at around 150 feet, utilizing about 500,000 gallons of recirculating water. The $11.6 million fountain project, the first overhaul in almost 40 years, was supported by a combination of state funds, as well as business and private donations. Capital budget funds, in the amount of $32 million, were committed to renovations throughout On June 7, 2013, the famous fountain at Point State Park re-energized after a multimillion the park. dollar renovation.

The Point State Park fountain was first dedicated on August 30, 1974, at the completion of the park’s construction. In 2007, an extensive renovation project began with improvements including:

 City-side Lawn, 2007-2008: Complete renovation of the lawn area on the city-side of the park, tracery lights, walkways, benches and landscaping.  Woodlands, 2009: Removed some of the lawn area and replaced it with 7,000 native trees, shrubs and perennials; new irrigation; and new stone edging.  Allegheny and Monongahela Wharfs, 2009-2010: demolished and reconstructed both wharf areas, using recycled materials where possible; lighting along wharf edges; boat tie-ups; new promenade walkways adjacent to the newly installed native woodland beds; and rehabilitation of the overlook area with new lighting, benches, stonework and landscaping.  Café at the Point, 2010-2011: Café was built with recycled building materials and green walls. Interpretive elements inform park visitors about Point State Park and its importance in the shaping of America.  Fountain Electric Service, 2011: Installed electrical components to meet the new requirements from the service provider and increased the capacity for improvements to the fountain.  First ADA EZ-dock, 2013: Cooperative venture between Point State Park and the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF), funded through the Hillman Foundation. The universal design of the removable dock opened Point State Park to and .

On June 13, 2013, Secretary Richard J. Allan resigned as Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. On that same date, Ellen M. Ferretti, Deputy Secretary for Parks and Forestry, was named Acting Secretary of the Department.

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The year 2013 marked the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association and the Natural Lands Trust prepared a unique paper with 20 Keystone facts about the 20 year history of the program. The list was as follows: 1. The Keystone Fund was created with overwhelming support in the Pennsylvania legislature in 1993. (The vote was 48-0 in the Senate and 196-3 in the House). 2. The improvements made possible by the Keystone Fund enhanced natural, recreational, educational and historic resources for residents throughout every region of Pennsylvania. 3. Every $1 invested in land and water conservation through the Keystone Fund returned $7 in economic value through natural goods and services. 4. Each Keystone Fund grant dollar leveraged $3.13 in additional local and private funding. 5. The Keystone Fund helped to preserve approximately 130,000 acres of green space for county and municipal parks, greenways, wildlife habitat and open space uses. 6. Approximately 2,000 community park development projects, including ball fields, playgrounds, pools, picnic areas and recreation centers were made possible by Keystone Fund grants. 7. 570 historic treasures were preserved and improved with help from the Fund. 8. Pennsylvania ranked first in the nation in trails thanks, in part, to 444 Keystone funded trail projects. 9. 3.3 million people, in 48 counties, benefited from improvements to their community libraries through the last four rounds of Keystone funding. 10. Pennsylvania’s state parks were recognized as the finest in the country in 2009 by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. The Keystone Fund was a vital source of support for capital improvements for the parks. 11. Pennsylvania’s state parks attracted 38 million visitors each year and generated an economic impact exceeding $1 billion. 12. Keystone helped DCNR maintain vital infrastructure in the state parks and forests, including 121 dams, 3,720 miles of roads, 842 bridges, 68 wastewater treatment facilities, and 172 public water supplies. 13. Pennsylvania’s 2.2 million acres of state forests were certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and licensed by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. 14. Keystone Funds were primarily used for capital projects that helped enhance and rehabilitate community libraries, historic treasures and recreational facilities. 15. Demand was high. Nearly 40% of projects submitted to DCNR went unfunded last year (2012), including projects that DCNR considered high value projects. 16. Keystone funds helped make Pennsylvania’s parks, libraries, historic buildings, playgrounds and swimming pools more accessible to those with physical disabilities. 17. In 2010, 32.6% of Pennsylvania’s children in grades K-6 and 34.1% of children in grades 7-12 were reported as overweight or obese. Access to parks, ball fields, and trails helps increase physical activity and reduce obesity. 18. Libraries are essential to our communities. Public libraries in Pennsylvania welcome more than 40 million visitors each year plus 13 million online library users. 19. Pennsylvania voters approved the initial Keystone Fund bond referendum by a 2 to 1 margin. 20. 92% of Pennsylvanians support continued state investments in recreation, parks and conservation.

On June 15, 2013, thousands of trail enthusiasts celebrated the completion of the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage. Linda Boxx, former Chair of the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation and the driving force behind the Great Allegheny Passage, said “…that after 35 years of work and $80 million raised and spent, the trail connection between Pittsburgh and Washington, DC was finally made.

“The first acquisition for the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) was made on June 9, 1978. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) purchased 27 miles of abandoned corridor from the Western Maryland Railway Company for $50,000. The Bureau of State Parks acquired the 307 acres from WPC in November of the same year to add to Ohiopyle State Park. Trail building by the state park staff began and the first 9-mile section was dedicated in 1986. 51

“Through hard work by the hundreds of volunteers who made up the trail groups organized under the Allegheny Trail Alliance, a trail network was developed, mile by mile, that connected downtown Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland. At Cumberland, the trail joins the C & O Canal National Historic Park, which allowed hikers or cyclists to go 335 miles on an off-road adventure.

“From Cumberland to Connellsville, the trail follows the Western Maryland Railway (WM) corridor. To even out the rugged landscape, the railroad engineers designed four (Brush, Borden, Big Savage and Pinkerton), five major river crossings (Ohiopyle Low and High Bridges, Pinkerton Low and High Bridges, and Harnedsville Bridge), and dozens of smaller bridges and underpasses. In these 87 miles, the trail gently climbs the final ridges of the Alleghenies, crosses the Eastern Continental Divide, and passes through some of the most scenic areas western Pennsylvania has to offer, including Ohiopyle State Park.

“But once the trail reached McKeesport, there were no more continuous, abandoned rail lines to use to get to downtown Pittsburgh. Short stretches of rail lines were here and there, but to complete the trail from McKeesport to Pittsburgh, dozens of small property acquisitions were needed – over 30 in just nine miles from McKeesport to the city limits. Consequently, the final section into Pittsburgh has a different feel as it bobs and weaves around active railroads, industry and commercial development. For many, though, this is a favorite section since it shows remnants of the Mon Valley, famous worldwide for its legendary steel manufacturing.

“The trail passes the Mason & Dixon Line at Mile 20.5, and an interpretive parklet will tell about this colonial (boundary) dispute, surveying methods, and lets you to straddle the line for a picture with one foot in Pennsylvania and the other in Maryland. Mason and Dixon’s five-year endeavor settled the dispute, and allowed Philadelphia to remain in Pennsylvania.”

On August 18, 2013, Caledonia State Park in Franklin and Adams counties was featured in an article in the Carlisle Sentinel announcing the installation of a Woodmaster fuel heating system. The new system, utilizing wood or wood pellets, served as the primary heat source for the park’s maintenance facility and the Pennsylvania Forest Fire Museum. The wood heated water, which was then circulated to heat the facilities. The boiler was capable of burning cordwood or wood cut into similar lengths. The project was funded with a $50,000.00 grant from the U.S. Forest Service. The Central Pennsylvania Conservancy administered the grant. Caledonia State Park was the first state park to install the environmentally friendly heating system.

On December 6, 2013, Patrick J. Solano was honored by Governor Tom Corbett when the Frances Slocum State Park environmental center was named the Patrick J. Solano Environmental Education Center. Governor Corbett spoke of Solano’s “exemplary life of leadership and service” during his 40 years in commonwealth government. He also noted that Solano had served as counselor to nine governors. In accepting the honor after receiving many honors in previous years, Pat Solano said, “This one, to me, is On December 6, 2013, Governor Tom Corbett named the park's environmental humbling because I’m getting it from an center the Patrick J. Solano Environmental Education Center. agency that I was the first acting secretary of when it was created.” 52

On December 10, 2013, DCNR’s Acting Secretary, Ellen M. Ferretti, was confirmed by the State Senate as Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

On February 19, 2014, DCNR unveiled a new online service to guide park users to winter activities in state parks. Locations, directions, snow and ice conditions were included on the website so that visitors could take a virtual tour of the many state park and forest lands. Winter activities that were featured were downhill skiing, snowmobiling, ice boating, ice skating, sledding and snowshoeing.

On June 2, 2014, Governor Tom Corbett signed a 35-year agreement with the non-profit Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA) for the operation of the Elk Country Visitor Center in Elk County. This agreement continued the public/private partnership that began in 2010. The center is open year-round and includes a 4-D story theater with special effects that explore the sight, smells and sounds of the area; interactive and interpretive exhibits; wildlife trails and viewing areas; wagon and sleigh rides; educational programming; and parking for cars, RVs and buses.

On June 12, 2014, DCNR Secretary Ellen M. Ferretti celebrated the completion of a $4.7 million improvements project at State Park in Philadelphia. The capital development project included construction of a new park entrance; parking improvements; a new trail, comfort station and information kiosks; sanitary sewer and water line installation; garden hose connections for the community gardens; electrical service; meadow establishment; storm-water controls; new signs; and landscaping. Additional interpretive panels were funded in partnership with PPFF through a grant from the McLean Contributionship.

Benjamin Rush State Park in the City of Philadelphia was created when Governor Milton J. Shapp signed Act 175 on December 22, 1975. The Act gave 274.87 acres of the former Philadelphia State Hospital to the Bureau of State Parks. Subsequently, changes were made by the Department of General Services to the park acreage. In 1994, 5.30 acres were removed from the state park; in 2000, 15.01 acres were added to the park; and in 2005, 22.29 acres were added to the park. The total acreage in 2005 was 306.87.

On July 15, 2014, State Park Director David L. Kemmerer issued an e-mail to senior staff members of the Bureau entitled, “Bureau of State Parks Organizational Change.” The e-mail is quoted as follows:

“Over the past few years, the Bureau of State Parks has implemented structural changes to keep pace with the variety of changes and new demands on the park system. Most notably, we completed the following:

 Updated the park weighting system to add an additional level to the manager series at our largest field parks and to the Assistant Regional Manager positions.  Re-organized the Central Office to allow for an additional Assistant Director in charge of Central Office functions and oversight.  Created a Communications Liaison position in Central Office to coordinate with the DCNR press office.  Created a new Field Resources Services Section in the Resources Management and Planning Division - comprised of a Section Chief and three regional resource management positions to better address the ever-increasing demands connected to conserving and improving our resources.

“This communication is to announce an additional organizational change to the support structure of the Bureau of State Parks.

“The Bureau has long recognized the need for expanded regional management options and began researching possible ways to reconfigure regional boundaries and establish additional regional offices over 40 years ago; one such plan is finally being implemented.

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“The current management structure of four regional units and their respective geographic boundaries have remained largely unchanged since the initiation by Dr. Maurice K. Goddard in 1962, despite several large growth spurts over the years. The Bureau nearly tripled its land holdings – rising from just over 104,121 acres in 1962 to over 203,360 acres by the end of 1970 and has continued to grow over the last 40 years with total holdings now over 300,000 acres. Though the acquisition rate has slowed, population density in the areas surrounding many of our state parks has increased dramatically. The most recent growth cycle and the resultant need for change in management structure stems from increased interactions with our constituents. The new ecology of parks and public requires a significantly different approach to the nature of the work conducted by Bureau of State Park representatives.

“The eastern-most management unit (Region 4), lies within a half-day’s drive of over half the population of the United States; and, meeting the compounded obligations presented by increased population and changing needs is becoming more challenging.

“Therefore the managerial and supervisory duties of the current Region 4 Office will be divided into two regions, Regions 4 and Region 5. The new regional division line will follow the Interstate 78 corridor.

 The new Region 4 will consist primarily of parks located south of Interstate 78, along the northern boundaries of Lebanon, Berks, Lehigh and Bucks counties. The Complex, located just beyond the end of Interstate 78 will remain in Region 4. The Region 4 office will remain in its current location in Nockamixon State Park.  The new Region 5 will oversee former Region 4 parks located north of Interstate 78. Region 5 management will be headquartered in the existing offices at . Management and environmental education staff currently housed at Nescopeck, part of the Hickory Run State Park Complex, will move into the new Hickory Run State Park Office/Visitor Center once construction is completed. The Nescopeck Environmental Education Center will remain a functional resource for the complex staff and also serve as the new Region 5 office. The building will house classroom space for educational programs, meeting rooms and offices for both the Region 5 staff and park staff when working on site.”

On September 27, 2014, State Park Director David Kemmerer dedicated the new state park administration building at Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County as the Roger Fickes Office and Visitor Center. Fickes was honored for his many years of service to the department and for his 14 years as Director of the Bureau of State Parks.

The 80-acre Pinnacle Overlook in Lancaster County was transferred to DCNR on October 1, 2014. The property was part of the PPL Electric Utilities, Inc., Holtwood Hydroelectric Power Plant operation. PPL transferred larger land holdings to the Lancaster County Conservancy and the Conservancy then transferred the Pinnacle Overlook to DCNR for management. The overlook became part of the Samuel S. Lewis and complex.

Point State Park in Pittsburgh received another major award on October 1, 2014, when the American Planning Association (APA) named the park as one of the “30 Great Places in America.” Each October APA recognizes 30 exemplary streets, neighborhoods and public spaces that add value to communities and foster economic growth and jobs. Great Places in America are announced annually and represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement and a vision for tomorrow. The Urban Land Institute Pittsburgh quickly followed the APA award with its own, bestowing the honor of calling the state park a “Best Community Place.” The award described Point State Park as Pittsburgh’s “front lawn,” an icon of the city.

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On December 4, 2014, DCNR announced that it had entered into a contract for a feasibility study of the ski operation at Denton Hill State Park in Potter County. In November, the concessionaire notified DCNR that it was terminating the lease and would not open for the 2014-15 ski season. Denton Hill was opened as a ski area in 1958 and operated by the Commonwealth until 1979. In 1983, DCNR signed a 35-year concession lease agreement with Denton Hill Family and Ski Resort, Inc. The agreement was set to expire in March 2018. It was planned to complete the feasibility study within six months with the study to include potential skiing and other year-round activities.

On January 20, 2015, Governor Tom appointed Cindy Adams Dunn as Acting Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Acting Secretary Dunn had served previously in DCNR as Deputy Secretary for Conservation and Technical Services and as Director of the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

On February 4, 2015, DCNR Acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that the department has upgraded its online system for Pennsylvania state park campsite, cabin and pavilion reservations. She noted that one of the key features was the ability to make reservations on a mobile device. The update included:

 Better campsite descriptions,  Easier site navigation,  An upgraded map view,  Mobile reservation capabilities,  Availability notifications,  A simpler check out process, and  Increased security.

Users were able to search on-line for available campsites, picnic pavilions and other facilities as well as make reservations at their convenience. To make on-line reservations, park users were told to visit www.visitPAparks.com and click on “Reservations.” On-line visitors were able to access the reservation system 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visitors were able to use their credit cards and reservations could be made up to 11 months prior to the arrival date.

On March 19, 2015. Acting Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the retirement of Harry Z. Leslie as Park Manager of Presque Isle State Park and the appointment of Matthew Greene as Leslie’s successor. Harry Leslie served as park manager for more than 25 years at Presque Isle State Park. At the Presque Isle Advisory Council meeting on March 20, 2015, the Council Chair, John Lyons, announced that DCNR was changing the name of Lighthouse Beach to Leslie Beach in honor of the retiring park manager.

Acting DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that the Department had added 46.7 acres of land to Codorus State Park in York County. The acquisition was completed on April 30, 2015. The state invested Growing Greener 2 funds in the amount of $219,000 for the property. The former Rohrbaugh property is located on the southern boundary of the park with frontage on Blooming Grove Road (Route 216). The new addition brought the total acreage of Codorus State Park to 3,479.8 acres.

After a successful two-year pilot operation of a smoke-free beach at Fuller Lake in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, DCNR announced that it would expand the trial program to include eight state parks across the state. Beginning in the spring of 2015, smoking in beach and swim areas was restricted in the following state parks: Black Moshannon, Centre County; Colonel Denning, Cumberland County; Keystone, Westmoreland County; Locust Lake, Schuylkill County; Moraine (South Shore), Butler County; Parker Dam, Clearfield County; Presque Isle (Barracks Beach and Beach No.11), Erie County; and Promised Land (Pickerel Point Beach), Pike County. No longer a pilot program, smoking restrictions at Pine Grove Furnace’s Fuller Lake beach area were established as permanent.

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On June 2, 2015, DCNR’s Acting Secretary, Cindy Adams Dunn, was confirmed by the State Senate as Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

On June 11, 2015, Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn dedicated the 11, 529 square-foot Ohiopyle Park Office/ Laurel Highlands Falls Area Visitor Center at Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County. Secretary Dunn noted that the state park serves as an inviting portal to the region as well as a focal point for the 1.5 million visitors who enjoy the park annually. The building’s layout serves the public year-round with a large lobby for personal contact with staff, improved restroom facilities, large interior and exterior interpretive exhibits, and both interior and exterior views of the Youghiogheny River.

When the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was created in 1965 by the , one of the law’s provisions was to mandate recreation planning by each of the 50 states. Governor William W. Scranton directed the State Planning Board to prepare the Commonwealth’s first Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. The State Planning Board prepared the plan in cooperation with the Department of Forests and Waters, predecessor to the Department of Environmental Resources (DER); PA Fish Commission, predecessor to the PA Fish and Boat Commission; PA Game Commission and the PA Historical and Museum Commission.

Pennsylvania’s first plan was completed in 1967 and was titled, Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan – An Interim Report. In 1971, the State Planning Board published the first update which was titled, Pennsylvania’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). In 1975, the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Development produced a plan called Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan. The fourth document was completed by Department of Environmental Resources’ staff following the transfer of recreation planning to DER by Governor Milton J. Shapp. In 1980, the SCORP was called Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan, 1980-1985.

The Department of Environmental Resources’ staff continued in its role to produce the SCORP as required by the terms of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The Federal Government required an approved SCORP in order for the states to receive funding from the LWCF. DER printed the next plan as required and titled it, “Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan, 1986-1990.” In 1991 DCNR published, “Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan, 1991-1997.

In 1995, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) was created as the successor to DER for state parks and forestry. The responsibility of producing the SCORP was transferred to DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. In order to keep current with an approved SCORP, DCNR requested and was granted an extension of the 1991-1997 plan to the year 2004. The updated plan was identified as Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan, 2004-2008. After extensive research, the SCORP was published in September 2009 and was titled, The Pennsylvania Outdoors Keystone for Healthy Living 2009-2013 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.

DCNR continued to organize, coordinate and produce the statewide outdoor recreation plan with new initiatives such as advisory committees and research projects. On June 25, 2015, DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn officially released Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan, 2014-2019. It included five priorities which were: Health and Wellness, Local Parks and Recreation, Tourism and Economic Development, Resource Management and Stewardship, and Funding and Financial Stability. As in the past, the plan identified walking for pleasure or fitness as the most popular outdoor recreation activity in the state.

Pennsylvania’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan: Natural Connections included 20 recommendations and 83 action steps. A majority of survey respondents said the main benefit they received from being outdoors was their mental and physical health. Outdoor places were perceived as making communities more desirable places to live, providing children safe places to play, and protecting the natural environment.

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On December 29, 2015, Washington Crossing Historic Park once again became a Pennsylvania state park, increasing the number of state parks to 121. The 500-acre park that lies along the Delaware River Washington Crossing originally established as a state park in July 1917. The park was transferred to PHMC in 1971. In 2013, legislation that supports the state budget and fiscal code initiated action to transfer managerial authority back to DCNR. The initial budget approval enabled the transfer of managerial jurisdiction over the Washington Crossing property from Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission to DCNR/Bureau of State Parks occurred on January 2, 2016. This was possible because the 2015-16 budget included a Program Revision Request (PRR) to adequately manage the park through funding of positions and operational costs.

In the three years between the first legislative action and final funding allocation, DCNR worked diligently with PHMC to design and facilitate the transition process. DCNR continues to implement and realign plans developed for operating and managing the park. An interagency agreement with PHMC to finalize transfer administrative jurisdiction of WDHP to DCNR for operation and management of the park in its final stages. DCNR is actively pursuing transition agreements with the park’s major stakeholders, including the Friends of Washington Crossing Historic Park, which currently operates the visitor center; and Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, which is included on the property. Upon this transfer Washington Crossing Historic Park became the Commonwealth’s 121st state park.

As the Pennsylvania State Park System begins its 122nd year of existence, the future looks bright for one of the finest and largest state park systems in the United States. The growth from a single park to 121 state parks has been achieved by creating new state parks, adding to existing areas and assuming responsibility for parks that were under the jurisdiction of other owners. Also during this time, some park areas had been transferred to other agencies. The goal of creating a state park within 25 miles of every Pennsylvanian was achieved during Secretary Maurice K. Goddard’s 24 years as Secretary of the Department of Forests and Waters and the Department of Environmental Resources.

The hiring of personnel started within a system of patronage and evolved into a legislatively authorized civil service system. Beginning in 1963, when the legislature approved a civil system for Commonwealth employees, the effect on the state park system has been profound. The creation of civil service positions, such as, assistant state park director, division chief, regional park manager, park manager, park ranger, environmental education specialist, park maintenance manager, administrative assistant and others enhanced the professionalism of the bureau.

The Bureau of State Parks manages 121 state park areas that encompass almost 300,000 acres of land with a staff that is less than it had been for many years. The management of this vast state park system is made possible by the dedication of the career employees and with the help of volunteers and friends groups. The Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation with its many “Friends” groups has assisted with thousands of hours of volunteer work and donated facilities.

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About the Author

William C. Forrey graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. degree in Landscape Architecture and a Master of Regional Planning degree. He has been an adjunct professor at York College of Pennsylvania and at Penn State. He served 32 years with the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks from 1960 to 1992. He was a landscape architect (1960-61), Chief of State Park Planning (1961-64), Assistant Director (1964-73) and Director (1973-92). As Director he supervised the operation, maintenance and development of the 114 state parks for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He retired in 1992.

He is a charter member PA Parks and Forests Foundation and the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. He has been a member of the PA Recreation and Park Society since 1961 and is an Honorary Life Member. He is an Honorary Life Member of the National Association of State Park Directors and is a Board Member of the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy.

He received the Penn State Alumni Fellow Award, Cornelius Amory Pugsley Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Park and Recreation Movement at the State Level, State Park Director Emeritus Award, Outstanding State Park Director Award (1985) and the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society's Honor Award.

William Forrey is also the author of History of Pennsylvania State Parks – 1893 -1983, published in 1984.

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APPENDIX

TABLE 1: Pennsylvania State Parks Directors TABLE 2: Department Leadership TABLE 3: Pennsylvania State Parks Opening Dates TABLE 4: State Parks and State Park Facilities Officially Named After Persons TABLE 5: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks - Annual Attendance TABLE 6: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks - Personnel Compliments TABLE 7: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks Budget Expenditures – General Fund and Other TABLE 8: Pennsylvania State Parks: Acreage Summary TABLE 9: Bureau of State Parks Awards TABLE 10: Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation Awards TABLE 11: Pennsylvania Envirothon – State Competitions TABLE 12: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks – Original Four Region Organization TABLE 13: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks – Five Region Reorganization TABLE 14: State Parks Acquired and/or Completed during M. K. Goddard’s 24 –Year Tenure TABLE 15: Pennsylvania State Parks Special Resource Management Areas TABLE 16: Pennsylvania State Parks Derived from State Forest Land TABLE 17: Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Chapters and Associates

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TABLE 1: Pennsylvania State Parks Directors

Jacob M. Hoffman 1927-1931

W.E. Montgomery 1931-1936 James S. Pates 1936-1938 * Eric von Hausswolff 1938-1939

John R. Williams 1939-1941

Milford Bratton 1941-1948

Walter L. Wirth 1948-1953

Wilford P. Moll 1953-1957

Joseph A. Blatt 1957-1964

Conrad R. Lickel 1964-1973

William C. Forrey 1973-1992

Roger Fickes 1992-2006

John W. Norbeck 2006-2012

David L. Kemmerer 2012-2015

John S. Hallas 2015-

*Subsequent research has determined that James S. Pates was state park director from 1936-1938. This is an update from the 1893-1983 Pennsylvania State Park History.

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TABLE 2: Department Leadership

SECRETARIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES

Name Appointed Maurice K. Goddard January 19, 1971 Clifford H. McConnell (Acting) Jan. 19, 1971-Feb. 23, 1979 Clifford L. Jones February 23, 1979 Peter S. Duncan III (Acting) Oct. 19, 1981-Jan. 6, 1982 Peter S. Duncan III January 6, 1982 Nicholas DeBenedictis (Acting) Feb. 7, 1983-Mar. 16, 1983 Nicholas DeBenedictis March 16, 1983 Arthur A. Davis January 20, 1987

SECRETARIES OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Name Appointed Patrick J. Solano (Acting) July 1, 1995 John C. Oliver November 13, 1995 Michael DiBerardinis January 21, 2003 John Quigley April 23, 2009 Richard J. Allan June 13, 2011 Ellen M. Ferretti (Acting) June 13, 2013 Ellen M. Ferretti December 10,2013 Cindy Adams Dunn (Acting) January 20, 2015 Cindy Adams Dunn June 2, 2015

STATE FORESTERS OF PENNSYLVANIA Name Appointed Joseph T. Rothrock September 14, 1895 Robert S. Conklin May 28, 1904 Gifford Pinchot March 10, 1920 Robert Y. Stuart April 18, 1922 Lewis E. Staley June 15, 1923 Joseph S. Illick April 16, 1927 John W. Keller January 22, 1931 R. Lynn Emerick March 3, 1936 O. Ben Gipple 1946 Ralph C. Wible June 6, 1952 Samuel S. Cobb October 27, 1966 Richard R. Thorpe October 20, 1977 James C. Nelson June 22, 1989 James R. Grace March 7, 1994 Daniel Devlin September 5, 2007

TABLE 3: Pennsylvania State Parks Opening Dates * major site development in the years 1971-80 1893 to 1920 Buchanan’s Birthplace (1913) Mont Alto (1906) Caledonia (1903) Pine Grove Furnace (1913) George W. Childs (1912) * Promised Land (1919)

1921 to 1930 Cherry Springs (1922) Ole Bull (1925) * Cook Forest (1928) Patterson (1925) Greenwood Furnace (1925) Presque Isle (1929) Kooser (1925) Prouty Place (1925) Laurel Summit (1922) * Pymatuning (1921) Leonard Harrison (1922) Ravensburg (1925) Linn Run (1924) Simon B. Elliott (1925) McCalls Dam (1922) Upper Pine Bottom (1922)

1931 to 1940 Big Spring (1936) Little Pine (1937) Reeds Gap (1938) * Black Moshannon (1937) Parker Dam (1936) Roosevelt (1931) (Delaware Canal) Bucktail (1933) Penn Roosevelt (1935) Sand Bridge (1938) Clear Creek (1934) Poe Paddy (1935) Sizerville (1931) Colonel Denning (1936) Poe Valley (1935) Trough Creek (1936) Colton Point (1936) Ralph Stover (1935) Whipple Dam (1936) * Cowans Gap (1937) Raymond B. Winter (1933) Worlds End (1936) Fowlers Hollow (1935)

1941 to 1950 Blue Knob (1845) * Keystone (1945) Raccoon Creek (1945) * French Creek (1945) Laurel Hill (1945) * Ricketts Glen (1944) * Hickory Run (1945) Point (1946) Tobyhanna (1949)

1951 to 1960 Bendigo (1953) Gouldsboro(1958) Samuel S. Lewis (1955) Big Pocono (1953) * Hills Creek (1953) * Shawnee (1951) Chapman (1951) Hyner Run (1958) * Shikellamy (1960) Crooked Creek (1951) Hyner View (1958) Sinnemahoning (1958) Denton Hill (1959) Lyman Run (1955) Fort Washington (1953) McConnells Mill (1959)

1961 to 1970 Archbald Pothole (1961) Kettle Creek (1962) Prince Gallitzin (1961) * Codorus (1970) Kinzua Bridge (1970) Prompton (1961) * Curwensville (1966) Laurel Mountain (1964) Ryerson Station (1967) Elk (1964) Memorial Lake (1964) Susquehanna (1961) * Frances Slocum (1968) Moraine (1970) Susquehannock (1965) * Gifford Pinchot (1961) * Neshaminy (1970) Warriors Path (1965) Hillman (1969) * Ohiopyle (1970)

1971 to 1980 Allegheny Islands (1980) * Lackawanna (1972) *Nockamixon (1974) * Bald Eagle (1971) * Laurel Ridge (1974) * Nolde Forest Env. Ed. Center (1971) * Beltzville (1972) * Little Buffalo (1972) Oil Creek (1979) * Canoe Creek (1972) * Locust Lake (1972) * Ridley Creek (1972) Evansburg (1979) * Marsh Creek (1974) Salt Springs (1973) Jacobsburg (1979) * Maurice K. Goddard (1972) * Tuscarora (1971) Jennings Env. Ed. Center Milton (1972) * Tyler (1974) (1980) Kings Gap Env. Ed. Center * Mount Pisgah (1979) * Yellow Creek (1971) (1978)

1981 TO 1990 Joseph E. Ibberson Lehigh Gorge acquired 1968 White Clay Creek Preserve (1984) Conservation Area – East (opened 1986/acquired (1988) 1968)

1991 to 2000 Boyd Conservation Area (1999) Norristown Farm Park Swatara (opened 1993/acquisition (opened 1992/acquired completed in 1987) 1987)

2001 TO 2010 Erie Bluffs (opened Nescopeck (opened Varden Conservation Area (2001) 2005/acquired 2004) 2004/acquired 1969)

2011 to 2015 Benjamin Rush (opened 2014/ Joseph E. Ibberson Washington Crossing (2015-16) acquired 1975) Conservation Area – West (2013)

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TABLE 4: State Parks and State Park Facilities Officially Named After Persons Bald Eagle State Park, Centre County. Family campground was named for former State Representative Russell P. Letterman.

Bendigo State Park, Elk County. Named for William Abednego Thompson (1881-1880). He was the youngest of 21 children and was a bare-knuckle fighter who had the nickname, Bendy Abednego, which evolved into Bendigo.

Benjamin Rush State Park, Philadelphia County. State park named for the signer of the Declaration of Independence and known as the father of psychiatry in America, Dr. Benjamin Rush.

Boyd Big Tree Preserve, Dauphin County. Named for the donor of the land for the preserve, Alexander Boyd.

Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park, Franklin County. Named for the 15th President of the United States, James Buchanan.

Canoe Creek State Park, Blair County. Environmental Education Center was named for former Park Manager Terry Wentz.

Chapman State Park, Warren County. Named for former State Senator Dr. Leroy E. Chapman.

Colonel Denning State Park, Cumberland County. Named for William Denning, a Revolutionary War soldier

Colton Point State Park, Tioga County. Named for a timber buyer, Henry Colton, who “probably” had a home at Colton Orchard on land that was eventually acquired by the Department of Forests and Waters.

Cook Forest State Park, Clarion County. Named for the former owner of the land that comprises the state park, A. W. Cook Co.

Cowans Gap State Park, Fulton County. Named for John Samuel Cowan, who in 1785 settled on the land that now comprises the state park.

Delaware Canal State Park, Bucks & Northampton Counties. The previous name of this state park was Roosevelt State Park, named for 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt. The popular name for the 60-mile-long state park was Delaware Canal State Park so, in 1989, the official name was changed from Roosevelt to Delaware Canal.

Frances Slocum State Park, Luzerne County. Named for a young girl, Frances Slocum, who was taken by the Indians near the site of the state park. The Environmental Education Center was named for the first acting Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Patrick J. Solano.

Gifford Pinchot State Park, York County. Named for former Governor Gifford Pinchot. Also, the lake was named after the governor (Pinchot Lake).

Hillman State Park, Washington County. Named after the donor of the land for the state park, James F. Hillman. Model airplane airfield named for former Speaker of the House, State Representative K. Leroy Irvis.

Ibberson Conservation Area, Dauphin County. Named for the donor of the land for the conservation area, Joseph E. Ibberson.

Jennings Environmental Education Center, Butler County. Named for famed naturalist Dr. Otto Emery Jennings.

Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, Cumberland County. The mansion was named the William C. Forrey Conference Center for former State Park Director William C. Forrey.

Kooser State Park, Somerset County. Named for John Kooser who settled in the western end of the park near what is now known as Kooser Spring.

Laurel Hill State Park, Somerset County. The overnight lodge at the park was named for former Park Manager Robert Hufman. It is known as Hufman Lodge.

Leonard Harrison State Park, Tioga County. Named for Leonard Harrison who operated the land as a public picnic ground. Harrison donated 121 acres of land for the state park in 1922.

Little Buffalo State Park, Perry County. The lake was named for former State Representative Allan W. Holman, Jr. (Holman Lake). A permanent stage was named for former State Senator William J. Moore. It is known as the Moore Pavilion. The park office was named the Roger Fickes Office and Visitor Center for former State Park Director Roger Fickes.

Lyman Run State Park, Potter County. Named for Major Isaac Lyman, a Revolutionary War soldier who is believed to be the second permanent settler in Potter County.

Maurice K. Goddard State Park, Mercer County. Named for former Secretary of the Departments of Forests and Waters and Environmental Resources, Maurice K. Goddard. The lake was named in honor of Lawrence J. Wilhelm who was a former Mercer County Commissioner and and Water Conservation District Director (Lake Wilhelm). John C. Oliver Multi-purpose Loop Trail named in honor of the first Secretary for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)

McCalls Dam State Park, Centre County. Named for the former owner of the dam and surrounding area, Johnny McCall.

McConnells Mill State Park, Lawrence County. Named for Thomas McConnell who bought an existing mill and improved it to make it one of the first rolling mills in the country.

Moraine State Park, Butler County. The Region 2 Office was named for former State Park Director Conrad R. Lickel. The lake was named in honor of Edmund Watts Arthur, a former Pittsburgh attorney, amateur geologist, and well-known nature writer (Lake Arthur). Five thousand acres of Moraine State Park were designated as a conservation area in honor of Dr. Frank W. Preston, an early proponent of the state park and a donor of land for the park.

Mount Pisgah State Park, Bradford County. The lake was named for the famous composer Stephen Foster (Stephen Foster Lake).

Nescopeck State Park, Luzerne County. Environmental Education Center was named for former State Senator Raphael J. Musto.

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Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, Berks County. Named for the former owner of the land and mansion, Hans Nolde. The McConnell Education Building was named for Department of Environmental Resources Deputy Secretary Clifford McConnell.

Ohiopyle State Park, Fayette and Somerset Counties. A 1300-acre forested ridge was added to Ohiopyle State Park through the generosity of the B.K. Simon family. It was named the B.K. Simon Family Forest.

Ole Bull State Park, Potter County. Named for Norwegian violinist, Ole Bomemann Bull, who was the former owner of land that comprises the state park.

Parker Dam State Park, Clearfield County. Named for William Parker who leased lumbering rights from John Otto. Parker built a splash dam on Laurel Run at the site of the present lake.

Poe Paddy and Poe Valley state parks, Centre County. The name Poe is a familiar name in the valley. Some say that the first settler in the valley was named Poe. Others say that the poet Edgar Allen Poe wrote his literary piece, The Raven, while staying in the valley.

Presque Isle State Park, Erie County. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center was named for former Governor Thomas J. Ridge. The Karl Boyes Multi-Use Trail was named for former State Representative Karl Boyes. The Stull Visitor Center was named for Jean and Jim Stull for their many years of volunteer commitments to the natural integrity of the state park. Lighthouse Beach was re-named Leslie Beach in honor of park manager Harry Leslie who served as park manager from 1989 to 2015.

Prince Gallitzin State Park, Cambria County. Named for a Catholic priest, Rev. Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin.

Ralph Stover State Park, Bucks County. Named for the family that donated land for the state park.

Raymond B. Winter State Park, Union County. Named for the former District Forester, Raymond B. Winter. The state park office was named for former Assistant State Park Director Robert E. Klingman.

Reeds Gap State Park, Mifflin County. Named for Edward and Nancy Reed who were early settlers in the area of the park.

Ricketts Glen State Park, Luzerne, Sullivan and Columbia counties. Named for the former owner of the land, Colonel Robert Bruce Ricketts.

Ryerson Station State Park, Greene County. The lake was named for former Park Manager Ronald J. Duke (Duke Lake).

Samuel S. Lewis State Park, York County. Named for the former Secretary of Forests and Waters and the donor of the land for the state park, Samuel S. Lewis.

Shikellamy State Park, Union and Northumberland counties. Named for the famous Chief Shikellamy. The inflatable dam was named for former State Representative Adam T. Bower (Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam). The Environmental Education Center was named for Basse A. Beck, a well-known supporter of the environment. The Basse A. Beck Environmental Education Center existed from 1978 to 1989.

Simon B. Elliott State Park, Clearfield County. Named for the former State Representative and State Forest Reservation Commission member, Simon B. Elliott.

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Sinnemahoning State Park, Cameron County. The dam was named for former State Senator George B. Stevenson.

Sizerville State Park, Potter and Cameron counties. Named for the Sizer family who were, according to legend, the first settlers in the area.

Tyler State Park, Bucks County. Named for the former owner of the land prior to acquisition by the Commonwealth, George F. Tyler.

Whipple Dam State Park, Huntingdon County. The state park was named for the former owner of the dam and surrounding land, Osgood M. Whipple.

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TABLE 5: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks - Annual Attendance Year Attendance # of State Parks Year Attendance # of State Parks Reported Reported 1956 11,579,842 56 1986 35,274,695 108 1957 12,730,020 57 1987 37,044,015 108 1958 12.872,702 58 1988 38,848,355 108 1959 14,710,058 59 1989 36,341,738 108 1960 15,080,467 60 1990 35,367,476 108 1961 15,938,076 66 1991 37,423,021 108 1962 15,245,949 64 1992 34,093,901 108 1963 15,576,325 68 1993 35,641,183 108 1964 16,721,100 70 1994 36,215,587 108 1965 18,158,283 70 1995 38,134,648 108 1966 22,767,854 76 1996 34,386,509 108 1967 24,506,416 78 1997 34,701,031 108 1968 26,486,547 86 1998 35,677,824 108 1969 28,278,441 87 1999 36,712,600 108 1970 29,216,668 89 2000 36,435,843 108 1971 28,529,786 90 2001 36,627,267 108 1972 26,825,546 98 2002 36,030,980 109 1973 31,241,299 106 2003 34,692,235 107 1974 30,380,751 107 2004 35,095,476 110 1975 33,845,913 107 2005 36,324,430 111 1976 34,792,620 110 2006 35,641,692 109 1977 38,887,513 113 2007 34,554,890 109 1978 36,890,560 115 2008 34,112,044 110 1979 31,251,749 115 2009 38,687,616 110 1980 38,065,775 115 2010 38,364,432 110 1981 32,513,912 112 2011 38,889,089 111 1982 33,133,966 112 2012 37,873,595 111 1983 35,178,884 109 2013 37,472,426 111 1984 35,261,579 108 2014 37,844,096 112 1985 38,283,297 108 2015 39,500,000 120

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TABLE 6: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks - Personnel Complements

PERSONNEL COMPLEMENTS PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU OF STATE PARKS

Year Salaried Wage 1968 425 668 1969 440 749 1970 568 924 1971 697 1,150 1972 697 1,335 1973 697 1,225 1974 729 1,420 1975 738 1,137 1976 751 1,267 1977 751 931 1978 750 1,142 1979 740 1,142 1980 702 1,142 1981 702 981 1982 674 861 1983 681 850 1984 679 1,064 1985 651 970 1986 640 971 1987 640 971 1988 644 975 1989 659 1,099 1990 665 1,500 1991 665 1,611 1992 615 1,458 1993 to 2007 Figures not available 2008 616 1,007 2009 608 923 2010 616 876 2011 548 740 2012 578 815 2013 559 854 2014 560 865 2015 575 814

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TABLE 7: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks Budget Expenditures – General Fund and Other

Fiscal Year Amount Fiscal Year Amount

66-67 3,382,300 91-92 Not Available

67-68 4,127, 100 92-93 Not Available

68-69 5,476,100 93-94 Not Available

69-70 6,485,600 94-95 Not Available

70-71 7,494,900 95-96 70,884,000

71-72 10,140,800 96-97 71,475,000

72-73 12,150,600 97-98 76,174,000

73-74 13.365,100 98-99 88,065,000

74-75 15,446,700 99-2000 95,479,000

75-76 15,796,600 2000-01 113,702,000

76-77 18,468,000 01-02 103,197,000

77-78 19,194,000 02-03 112,743,000

78-79 20,753,000 03-04 108,267,000

79-80 22,371,000 04-05 113,870,000

80-81 23,155,000 05-06 134,696,000

81-82 27,260,000 06-07 136,527,000

82-83 28,889,000 07-08 164,139,000

83-84 30,212,000 08-09 154,435,000

84-85 32,077,000 09-10 171,056,000

85-86 33,321,000 10-11 77,574,000

86-87 34,184,000 11-12 81,839,000

87-88 36,411,000 12-13 82,932,000

88-89 39,197,000 13-14 90,162,000

89-90 44,113,000 14-15 93,123,000

90-91 46,140,000 15-16 99,874,235

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TABLE 8: Pennsylvania State Parks: Acreage Summary Total Acreage: 293,327.46 (as of December 31, 2015) Park Acres Fowlers Hollow 104.86 Allegheny Islands 34.00 Frances Slocum 1,032.61 Archbald Pothole 149.16 French Creek 7,916.27 Bald Eagle 5,900.00 Gifford Pinchot 2,337.82 Beltzville 2,972.39 Gouldsboro 3,124.26 Bendigo 152.26 Greenwood Furnace 410.63 Benjamin Rush 306.87 Hickory Run 15,989.93 Big Pocono 1,305.60 Hillman 3,697.00 Big Spring 45.00 Hills Creek 481.44 Black Moshannon 3,480.00 Hyner Run 176.90 Blue Knob 6,047.50 Hyner View 40.00 Boyd Conservation 1,024.88 Jacobsburg 1,166.49 Area Buchanan’s Birthplace 18.50 Jennings 333.92 Joseph E. Ibberson 772.50 Bucktail 16,433.00 Conservation Area Caledonia 1,130.00 Kettle Creek 1,793.24 Canoe Creek 935.32 Keystone 1,203.12 Chapman 804.68 Kings Gap 2,501.79 Cherry Springs 140.57 Kinzua Bridge 339.07 Clear Creek 1,901.29 Kooser 176.30 Codorus 3,479.79 Lackawanna 1,415.97 Colonel Denning 273.00 Laurel Hill 4,219.33 Colton Point 357.00 Laurel Mountain 492.60 Cook Forest 11,636.29 Laurel Ridge 12,114.22 Cowans Gap 1,085.00 Laurel Summit 6.14 Delaware Canal 985.37 Lehigh Gorge 7,010.31 Denton Hill 700.00 Leonard Harrison 585.00 Elk 3,192.00 Linn Run 612.77 Erie Bluffs 621.76 Little Buffalo 991.13 Evansburg 3,349.05 Little Pine 2,161.04 Fort Washington 523.26 Locust Lake 1,826.51

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Lyman Run 595.00 Raymond B. Winter 695.00 Marsh Creek 1,590.15 Raccoon Creek 7,622.34 Maurice K. Goddard 2,903.86 Ralph Stover 44.93 McCalls Dam 7.50 Ravensburg 78.0 McConnells Mill 2,544.25 Reeds Gap 220.00 Memorial Lake 231.00 Ricketts Glen 13,046.56 Milton 76.74 Ridley Creek 2,606.66 Mont Alto 23.70 Ryerson Station 1,346.23 Moraine 16,701.80 Simon B. Elliott 318.00 Mount Pisgah 1,024.12 Salt Springs 408.50 Nescopeck 3,011.00 Samuel S. Lewis 85.67 Neshaminy 343.57 Sand Bridge 3.00 Nockamixon 5,222.47 Shawnee 3,874.36 Nolde Forest 679.76 Shikellamy 218.12 Norristown 701.91 Sinnemahoning 1,910.03 Ohiopyle 20,499.08 Sizerville 386.00 Oil Creek 6,531.48 Susquehanna 19.59 Ole Bull 117.53 Susquehannock 572.45 Parker Dam 968.00 Swatara 3,393.88 Patterson 19.05 Tobyhanna 5,440.73 Penn Roosevelt 100.00 Trough Creek 541.00 Pine Grove Furnace 696.00 Tuscarora 1,801.07 Poe Paddy 22.73 Tyler 1,642.49 Poe Valley 620.00 Upper Pine Bottom 5.00 Point 36.00 Varden Conservation 443.84 Area Presque Isle 3,112.29 Warriors Path 333.37 Prince Gallitzin 6,466.98 Whipple Dam 256.00 Promised Land 2,971.00 White Clay Creek 2,086.02 Prompton 949.30 Worlds End 780.00 Prouty Place 5.00 Yellow Creek 2,981.23 Pymatuning 17,373.24

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TABLE 9: Bureau of State Parks Awards

Director’s Award Administrative Assistant Award Bureau Award Park Ranger Award Park Maintenance Supervisor Award Louis Ritrovato Environmental Education Award Individual Volunteer Award Group Volunteer Award Special Award

74

Director’s Award

Candidates must have demonstrated outstanding action in accomplishing act(s) that reflect favorably upon the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and/or the Bureau of State Parks. This action may consist of sustaining outstanding performance, public relations, ingenuity, personnel management, cost-cutting effectiveness and/or dedication in accomplishing mission effectiveness. Consideration for this award will be based upon the contribution such act has made to the department, bureau or general government image.

1985 Arthur Feld 1986 Wilson Oberdorfer 1987 Michael A. Bucheit 1990 Earl Kilmer 1991 Genevieve Volgstadt 1992 Obediah B. Derr 1993 John K. Wiediger 1994 Kings Gap Environmental Education Staff 1995 Keith Taylor 1996 John T. Graham 1997 Leo Davidovich 1997 Presque Isle Partnership 1998 Steve Farrell 1999 David Hartzell 2000 Robert P. Barth 2001 Harry Z. Leslie 2002 Jim Davis 2003 Cowans Gap Park Staff 2004 Rory Bower 2005 Harry “Chip” Harrison 2006 Jeffrey Anna 2007 Wilbur Taylor 2008 Sharon Bleich 2009 Robert Bromley 2010 Yellow Creek State Park 2011 Charlie Miller 2012 Keystone State Park 2013 Danette Bixler-George 2014 Harry Z. Leslie 2015 Rick Dalton

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Administrative Assistant Award

Candidates for the award- clerks, clerk typists and administrative assistants- must exhibit outstanding achievement and dedication in the fulfillment of their duties. This could include, in addition to the execution of their daily routine, training other employees; staffing information booths at public exhibitions; have the ability to recognize and propose beneficial cost reduction ideas as well as being able to implement these suggestions once approved; recommend ways and means of reducing paperwork; serve in community activities that reflect on the Bureau of State Parks; and constantly display a personable attitude when dealing with the public which will not only have a favorable impact on the bureau, but also the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

1985 Donna Fletcher 1986 Mary Ann Rimby 1988 Monica L. Ludwig 1991 Janice Manweiler 1992 Kathy J. McAulay 1993 Cynthia L. Shuman 1994 Carolyn R. Hughes 1995 Judie Grim 1996 Christine Hirzic 1997 Deborah Bowers 1998 Margaret “Peg” Lauer 1999 Toni Swain 2000 Louis Morey 2002 Lori Goodling 2003 Jenny Kovach 2004 Alison Longenecker 2006 Lisa Sitlinger 2007 Beth Ann Adams 2008 Bonnie Mundorf 2009 Robin Duke and Betty Weiland 2010 Diane Varner 2011 Mary Forsyth 2012 Deborah Bowers 2013 Tammy Seiger 2014 Kate Bowlan 2015 Janet Fantasky

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Bureau Award Candidates will have demonstrated outstanding action or emergency action in accomplishing act(s) that reflect favorably upon the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The action may consist of sustained administrative performance, public relations, heroism, ingenuity, and/or safety.

1980 Kenneth C. Burkholder 1980 Jeffrey C. Territo 1980 Timothy R. Keech 1980 Mathew R. Greene 1981 Ross E. Starner 1982 Edwin J. Burns 1983 Kenneth J. Boyles 1984 Terrence L. Daltroff 1984 Frank Keegan 1985 Larry Hoffman 1986 John Houghton 1986 Russell Maurer 1988 Mary B. Herrold 1989 David Kemmerer 1989 Ralph Barkac 1989 James P. Barr 1989 P.H. Glatfelter Company 1990 Gwendolyn Buckley 1990 Kristen Kockler 1990 Brent McConnell 1992 Jeffrey F. Anna 1993 Dennis P. Stebick 1994 James C. Kleeman, Jr. 1995 Fred Miller 1996 Marlin Hooper 1996 Harry Harrison 1996 Robert Hershey 1997 Stanley Peterson 1998 Terri Kromel 1999 Patrick Adams 2000 Hills Creek/Lyman Run State Park Staff 2002 Doug Hoehn 2002 Dan Bickel 2003 Gene Comoss 2005 Keith Taylor 2006 Carl D. McElaney, Jr. 2007 Shikellamy State Park Maintenance Staff 2008 Gary Smith 2009 Jeremy Rekich 2010 Bald Eagle State Park/Region 1 Staff 2011 Codorus State Park 2012 Moraine State Park 2013 Canoe Creek State Park 2014 Parker Dam State Park Maintenance Staff 2015 Lynn Run Maintenance Staff

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Park Ranger Award Candidates will have demonstrated continuous action or emergency action in accomplishing act(s) that reflect favorably upon the Bureau of State Parks. This action may consist of continuous outstanding administrative performance, public relations, heroism, ingenuity, safety, training, ranger/interpretive programming, and/or operational efficiency. Only employees who have accomplishments of objectives above and beyond that normally expected in performing one’s duties will be considered.

1981 Earl “Pete” Burnworth 1982 Kenneth F. Lewis 1983 Bill Colantoni 1984 Robert Plum 1984 Donna Volger 1984 William J. Zollum 1986 Robert G. Doleiden 1990 Delbert Landfried 1991 Harry “Chip” Harrison 1992 Robert G. Doleiden 1993 Joseph Grey 1994 Michael J. Norris 1995 John D. Valko 1995 David Rankin 1996 Bill Colantoni 1997 Pat Schiavo 1999 David Hartzell 2000 R. Shawn Lynn 2001 Hank Puhl 2002 Bill Zollum 2003 Kathy Isaac 2003 Mike Isaac 2003 Tony Mosloskie 2004 Joseph G. Hamilton, Jr. 2004 Bryan L. Moore 2005 Rodney Fye 2006 Joseph Ehrenhardt 2007 Richard Carson 2008 James Sleighter 2009 Floyd Hawk 2010 Richard Mohney 2011 Mike Bonner 2012 Paul Ashford 2013 Wanda Pritulsky 2014 Rick Brubaker 2015 Dave Roberts

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Park Maintenance Supervisor Award

Candidates will have demonstrated continuous outstanding action or emergency action in accomplishing act(s) that reflect favorably upon the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks.

1981 Sandy Miller 1982 Dean Dunn 1983 Steven E. Mell 1984 Thomas C. Miller 1985 Karl W. Humphries 1986 William Crossley 1988 Harry “Jake” Brindle 1991 Richard Demi 1992 Leo G. Davidovich 1993 G. Merle Hawn 1994 John K. Parana 1995 Thomas Fetterman 1996 David Miller 1997 John McGehean 1998 Stan Lunsford 1999 James Smith 2001 Richard Demi 2002 H. Dennis Whipple 2004 Dennis Hann 2005 Thomas Biagetti 2006 John Chastain 2008 David l. Shriner 2009 Francis Jacobs 2010 Gary Lesniak 2011 Jim Miller 2012 James Cockerill 2013 Stephen Guinan 2014 Kevin Ravenscroft 2015 Jimmy Risley

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Louis Ritrovato Environmental Education Award

Candidates have demonstrated implementation of effective environmental education and/or environmental interpretive programming that reflect favorably on the Bureau of State Parks.

This action may consist of outstanding performance in the promotion, planning and facilitation of environmental education and/or environmental interpretation programming meeting the highest accepted standards, including, but not be limited to: environmental education and interpretive programming efforts related to Pennsylvania’s natural, cultural, or historical resources; efforts that effectively further the environmental awareness of teachers, students and/or general public; demonstration of effectively addressing the statewide environment and ecology standards with teachers or students; intergovernmental agency education and information initiatives; or partnering efforts to meet the desired goals of a program. Actions may include development of exemplary programs, brochures, exhibits, curriculum, audiovisual presentations, publications or facilities. Only individuals or groups who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the field of environmental education and interpretation that go beyond normal expectations will be considered.

2005 John Michael Jones 2006 Bonnie Tobin 2007 Spring Reilly 2008 Paul T. Fagley 2009 Presque Isle Environmental Education Staff 2010 Estelle Ruppert 2011 Angela Lambert 2012 Tara Gettig 2013 Kathy Kelchner 2014 Heidi Solley 2015 Ian Kindle

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Conservation Volunteer of the Year Awards Each park may nominate two types of volunteers for the Conservation Volunteer of the Year Awards: 1. Individual conservation volunteer award (individual, husband/wife, family) 2. Group conservation volunteer award (Friends group, Nature groups, Education groups, etc)

Individual Volunteer Award 2005 Ruth Cochios 2007 Jim Stauch 2008 Orran and Ruth Kelly 2009 Regina Grey 2009 Clint Weltner 2010 Ralph Roth 2010 Suzanne Weiland 2011 Ginny Loughlin 2012 David Ravegum 2013 Margaret Higbee 2014 Dave Gobert 2015 Jim Fitch

Group Volunteer Award 2005 Muddy Creek Oil Field Volunteers 2007 Friends of Delaware Canal State Park 2008 Pymatuning Lake Association 2009 Disc Golf Clubs of Gifford Pinchot State Park 2010 Friends of Prince Gallitzin State Park 2011 Iron Master’s Museum at Pine Grove Furnace State Park 2012 Presque Isle Partnership 2013 Halloween in the Park Committee at Codorus State Park 2014 Friends of Parker Dam 2015 Friends of Oil Creek

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Special Award

This award is typically awarded to someone who goes above and beyond their typical daily job duties. This award is given at the discretion of the Bureau Director.

2005 Ryan Dysinger 2005 Mike Redding 2006 Burt Ellsworth 2006 Christine Slusarick 2006 Judy Patterson 2006 David Gelnett 2006 Jessica Holtz 2007 Floyd Hawk 2007 Matthew R. Greene 2008 Staff 2009 Cook Forest/ Staff 2009 Raymond B. Winter State Park Staff 2010 Fred Boboige 2010 Kathy Moczydlowski 2010 Bryan Moore 2011 Frank Ragan 2011 Terry Shock and Rudy Black 2012 Terrence L. Daltroff 2012 Judy Deiter 2012 Dale Margus 2013 Chuck Mann and Barb Feathers 2014 Curtis McDowell 2014 William C. Forrey 2015 Curt Ahner and Dale Fisher1 2015 Brian Zimmerman1

1 Two awards granted in 2015 - 82 -

TABLE 10: Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation Awards

Cliff Jones Keystone Legacy Award Joseph Ibberson Government Award State Park of the Year Award State Forest of the Year Award Volunteerism Award Improvement Award Education Award President’s Award Young Volunteer Award

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Cliff Jones Keystone Legacy Award

The top honor- given to a group, individual or business- chosen at the discretion of the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation. It recognizes an outstanding contribution to the protection and/or enhancement of the park and forest system in Pennsylvania.

2007 Civilian Conservation Corps 2008 Rose Eshelman - for preserving the Goat Hill Wild Plant Sanctuary 2009 Joe Healey - for his work in building and maintaining trails across the commonwealth on public lands 2010 William C. Forrey - lifetime achievement in recreation and conservation 2011 Robert Griffith - contribution in recreation 2012 Franklin Kury - author of the environmental amendment to the state constitution 2013 Western Pennsylvania Conservancy - leadership in land protection 2014 Caren Glotfelty - leadership in conservation, planning and partnerships 2015 Linda Boxx - driving force behind the Great Allegheny Passage

Joseph Ibberson Government Award

This award is given to a person or a department at any level of government to recognize their work in the stewardship of Pennsylvania’s state park and forest systems.

2007 Secretary Michael DiBerardinis, DCNR - vision and leadership 2008 Jerry Walls - land preservation through planning 2009 Greg Schrum - innovation in park management 2010 DCNR Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Team - Work in creating an award-winning plan 2011 DCNR Forest Assessment Team - teamwork in creating the assessment plan 2012 Dr. James Grace - lifetime achievement 2013 Representative William Adolph - preservation of funding for parks and recreation 2014 Bushkill Township, Northampton County - leader in embracing their local state park as an asset to the community (Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center) 2015 Dr. Norman Lacasse - author, forester and volunteer for the Harrisburg Greenbelt

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State Park of the Year Award

This award is designed to recognize a park for its exemplary or innovative work in any or all of the following: customer service; education, programming (e.g. events) or recreation; stewardship of the natural, cultural or historic assets; and/or accommodation of special needs of visitors.

2007 Pymatuning State Park 2008 Moraine State Park 2009 Sinnemahoning State Park 2010 Nockamixon State Park 2011 Pine Grove Furnace State Park 2012 Kinzua Bridge State Park 2013 French Creek State Park 2014 Prince Gallitzin State Park 2015 Point State Park

State Forest of the Year Award

This award is designed to recognize a forest district for its innovative and exemplary work in both forest management and recreation for a wide range of activities which include: the ability to provide opportunities for healthful, low-density recreation that is compatible with maintaining the integrity of the forest ecosystems; to provide information and assistance to the public while ensuring public safety; and to promote and effectively use volunteers to enhance the Bureau of Forestry’s recreational programming, planning and development activities.

2007 District 2008 District 2009 William Penn Forest District 2010 Michaux Forest District 2011 Susquehannock State Forest District 2012 District 2013 Tiadaghton State Forest District 2014 District 2015

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Volunteerism Award

The group/individual attracts and nurtures volunteers and actively engages them in a wide variety of projects; the group/individual logged in significant volunteer hours in proportion to the size of the park or forest; or the group/individual has developed an innovative volunteer program.

2007 Friends of Codorus State Park 2008 Mountaineer Search and Rescue 2009 Friends of Ohiopyle 2010 Friends of Prince Gallitzin 2011 Friends of Mt. Pisgah State Park 2012 The Cavers at Forbes State Forest 2013 Nockamixon Trail Group 2014 The Promised Land State Park Arts and Nature Center 2015 Friends of Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center

Improvement Award

The group/individual has completed capital improvement projects that benefited the park or forest and or users; provide ongoing maintenance or improvements to trails, buildings, etc.; or innovatively protects the natural or cultural heritage of the park or forest.

2007 The Miller Family, Greenwood Furnace State Park 2008 Friends of the Delaware Canal 2009 Friends of Shikellamy 2010 Friends of Ridley Creek State Park 2011 Tom Scully, trail designer and maintainer 2012 Friends of the State Line Serpentine Barren 2013 Paul Yost and the Friends of 2014 Kathy and Gary Dugan, Pymatuning State Park 2015 Warren Renninger, Worlds End State Park

Education Award

The group/individual provides ongoing educational support or programming, provides a stewardship message through its events and programs, and/or organizes events that support the park and/or the gateway communities.

2007 Cherry Springs Dark Sky Fund 2008 Friends of Laurel Hill State Park 2009 Friends of Colonel Denning State Park 2010 Friends of M.K. Goddard State Park 2011 John Salvetti, Prince Gallitzin State Park 2012 Gwen and Bud Wills, PA Equine Council 2013 Pat and Carl Leinbach, Kings Gap Environmental Education Center 2014 Promised Land State Park Nature Arts and Crafts Volunteers 2015 Friends of Black Moshannon State Park

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President’s Award

This award is presented at the discretion of the PPFF President to recognize individuals, businesses, governments and volunteers who are making a positive difference for parks and forests and/or who lead by example.

2010 Recreation Equipment Incorporated- volunteerism in parks and forests 2011 Borough of Ohiopyle- gateway to the park 2012 Yellow Creek State Park- energy conservation 2013 John and Jan Halter- adaptive paddling at Codorus State Park 2014 Ralph Harrison- elk reintroduction/education/volunteerism 2015 Deloitte Consulting- for their work on the annual clean-up of Little Tinicum Island

Young Volunteer Award

This award recognizes a significant contribution to a park or forest by a person under age 25. The contribution could be in volunteer hours, a significant project, an innovative idea, or more.

2012 Paul Mickle, Ridley Creek State Park 2013 Hailey Freeman, Pine Grove Furnace State Park 2014 Eleanor Davis, PA Parks and Forests Foundation 2015 Kayce Bobnar, Sawmill Art Center, Cook Forest State Park

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TABLE 11: Pennsylvania Envirothon – State Competitions The Envirothon is a natural resource environmental education program that combines classroom learning and outdoor activities that culminate in a competition. Students work in teams after school to gain the natural history knowledge needed to compete. At the annual Envirothon, teams of five high school students compete in field testing using their knowledge in five topic areas: Soils and Land Use, Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Wildlife, and Environmental Issues.

Year Venue 1984 Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center 1985 Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center 1986 Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center 1987 Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center 1988 Reeds Gap State Park 1989 Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center 1990 Bald Eagle State Park 1991 Bald Eagle State Park 1992 PPL Montour Preserve 1993 Pine Grove Furnace State Park 1994 PPL Montour Preserve 1995 Bald Eagle State Park 1996 PPL Montour Preserve 1997 Shawnee State Park 1998 Bald Eagle State Park 1999 PPL Montour Preserve 2000 Shawnee State Park 2001 Bald Eagle State Park 2002 PPL Montour Preserve 2003 Penn State Mont Alto 2004 University of Pittsburgh Johnstown 2005 PPL Montour Preserve 2006 Penn State Mont Alto 2007 Penn State University Park Campus/Rock Springs 2008 Penn State University Park Campus/Rock Springs 2009 Bald Eagle State Park 2010 PPL Montour Preserve 2011 Shikellamy State Park 2012 University of Pittsburgh Johnstown 2013 Juniata College 2014 PPL Montour Preserve 2015 University of Pittsburgh Johnstown

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TABLE 12: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks – Original Four Region Organization

- 89 -

TABLE 13: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks – Five Region Reorganization

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TABLE 14: State Parks Acquired and/or Completed during M. K. Goddard’s 24 –Year Tenure Parks Acquired and/or Completed During Maurice K. Goddard’s Tenure as Secretary of the Departments of Forests and Waters and Environmental Resources (1955 – 1979)

1. Allegheny River, Venango County2 38. Nockamixon, Bucks County 2. Archbald Pothole, Lackawanna County 39. Nolde Forest, Berks County2 3. Bald Eagle, Centre County 40. Ohiopyle, Fayette, Somerset counties2 4. Bear Creek, Carbon, Monroe, Luzerne 41. Oil Creek, Venango County 2 counties* 42. Point, Allegheny County 5. Beltzville, Carbon County 43. Prince Gallitzin, Cambria County 6. Canoe Creek, Blair County2 44. Prompton, Wayne County 7. Codorus, York County2 45. Ridley Creek, Delaware County2 8. Curwensville, Clearfield County** 46. Ryerson Station, Greene County 9. Denton Hill, Potter County 47. Salt Springs, Susquehanna County 10. Elk, Elk County 48. Samuel S. Lewis, York County 11. Evansburg, Montgomery County2 49. Shikellamy, Union and Northumberland 12. Frances Slocum, Luzerne County counties1 13. Gifford Pinchot, York County 50. Sinnemahoning, Cameron County 14. Gouldsboro, Monroe, Wayne counties 51. Susquehanna, Lycoming County 15. Hillman, Washington County 52. Susquehannock, Lancaster County 16. Hyner Run, Clinton County 53. Swatara, Lebanon County 17. Independence Mall, Philadelphia 54. Tuscarora, Schuylkill County County*** 55. Tyler, Bucks County2 18. Jacobsburg, Northampton County2 56. Warriors Path, Bedford County 19. Kettle Creek, Clinton County 57. Yellow Creek, Indiana County2 20. Kings Gap, Cumberland County 21. Kinzua Bridge, McKean County 22. Lackawanna, Lackawanna County2 23. Laurel Mountain, Westmoreland County 24. Laurel Ridge, Somerset, Westmoreland, Cambria, Indiana, Fayette counties 25. Lehigh Gorge, Carbon County 26. Little Buffalo, Perry County2 27. Locust Lake, Schuylkill County2 28. Lyman Run, Potter County 29. Marsh Creek, Chester County2 30. Maurice K. Goddard, Mercer County2 31. McConnells Mill, Lawrence County 32. Memorial Lake, Lebanon County 33. Milton, Northumberland County 34. Moraine, Butler County1,2 35. Mount Pisgah, Bradford County2 36. Nescopeck, Luzerne County 37. Neshaminy, Bucks County

1 State park which had acreage added with Project 70 funds. 2 State park which was initially acquired with Project 70 funds. - 91 -

* Bear Creek is no longer a state park. The lease with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District, was cancelled circa 1977. ** Curwensville is no longer a state park. The lease with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, District, was cancelled in 1981. *** Independence Mall is no longer a state park. It was transferred to the U.S. National Park Service to be incorporated into Independence National Historical Park in 1975. The transfer was authorized by Act 187 of July 20, 1974.

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TABLE 15: Pennsylvania State Parks Special Resource Management Areas

Natural Areas

A natural area is an area within a state park of unique scenic, geologic or ecological value which will be maintained in a natural condition by allowing physical and biological processes to operate, usually without direct human intervention. These areas are set aside to:

 Provide locations for scientific observation of natural systems.  Protect examples of typical and unique plant and mineral communities.  Protect outstanding examples of natural interest and beauty.

Black Moshannon Bog, Black Moshannon State Park 1,501 acres Forest Cathedral, Cook Forest State Park 573 acres Nockamixon Cliffs, Delaware Canal State Park 28 acres Pine Swamp, French Creek State Park 101 acres Boulder Field, Hickory Run State Park 435 acres Ferncliff Peninsula, Ohiopyle State Park 112 acres Gull Point, Presque Isle State Park 46 acres Rapid Run, Raymond B. Winter State Park 38 acres Glens Natural Area, Ricketts Glen State Park 2,846 acres Swamp Forest, Cook Forest State Park 246 acres Mud Run, Hickory Run State Park 1,281 acres Virgin Hemlock Trees, Laurel Hill State Park 6 acres Mud Swamp, Hickory Run State Park 145 acres Tidal Marshes, Neshaminy State Park 70 acres Black Jack Swamp, Pymatuning State Park 726 acres Fall Brook, Salt Spring State Park 34 acres Clark Island, Pymatuning State Park 161 acres River Islands, Delaware Canal State Park 82 acres Slippery Rock, Moraine State Park 92 acres Black Bear/Bender Swamps, Tobyhanna State Park 1,615 acres Slippery Rock Gorge, McConnells Mill State Park 1,296 acres Pine Creek Gorge, Colton Point and Leonard Harrison 676 acres State Parks

Special Management Areas Limestone Cave, Canoe Creek State Park 4 acres Remnant Prairie, Jennings Environmental Education Center 3 acres Wildflower Preserve, Raccoon Creek State Park 315 acres Seneca Forest, Cook Forest State Park 676 acres Grassy Plain, Neshaminy State Park 15 acres Laurel Run, Whipple Dam State Park 18 acres Wildcat Hollow, Oil Creek State Park 300 acres Lupine, Nescopeck State Park 187 acres Climbing Fern, Nescopeck State Park 58 acres Cattail Marsh, Nescopeck State Park 32 acres

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TABLE 16: Pennsylvania State Parks Derived from State Forest Land

Park McCalls Dam Big Spring Mont Alto Black Moshannon Ole Bull Bucktail Parker Dam Caledonia Patterson Cherry Springs Penn Roosevelt Clear Creek Pine Grove Furnace Colonel Denning Poe Paddy Colton Point Poe Valley Cowans Gap Promised Land Denton Hill Prouty Place Elk Raymond B. Winter Fowlers Hollow Ravensburg Greenwood Furnace Reeds Gap Hyner Run Simon B. Elliott Hyner View Sand Bridge Kettle Creek Sinnemahoning Kooser Sizerville Laurel Summit Trough Creek Leonard Harrison Upper Pine Bottom Linn Run Whipple Dam Little Pine Worlds End Lyman Run

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TABLE 17: Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Chapters and Associates

Chapters

(Groups showing beginning and ending dates have gone on to be independent 501(c)(3) entities or are presently inactive).

Name Year Founded or Dates of PPFF Chapterhood Cherry Springs Dark Sky Association 1999

Elk County Alliance 2009-2010

Friends of Beltzville 2015

Friends of Big Pocono 2008

Friends of Black Moshannon 2006

Friends of Buchanan State Forest, 2015 , and Martins Hill Tract Friends of Caledonia 2015

Friends of Canoe Creek 2013

Friends of Codorus 2005-2007

Friends of Colonel Denning 2005

Friends of Clear Creek 2009-2012

Friends of Cook Forest 2009

Friends of Cowans Gap 2014

Friends of Delaware/Promised Land 2010-2012

Friends of Denton Hill 2004-2007

Friends of Goddard 2002

Friends of Greenwood Furnace 2003

Friends of Hickory Run 2004-2007

Friends of Keystone 2006

Friends of Kings Gap 2008

Friends of Laurel Hill 2003

Friends of Linn Run/Forbes 2006-2010

Friends of Little Buffalo 2014 Friends of Lyman Run 2010

Friends of Milton 2005

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Friends of Mont Alto 2013

Friends of Mt. Pisgah 2010

Friends of Nockamixon 2011

Friends of Nolde Forest 2006

Friends of Ohiopyle 2005

Friends of Oil Creek 2005

Friends of Parker Dam 2009

Friends of Pinchot 2009

Friends of Pine Grove Furnace 2010

Friends of Prince Gallitzin 2007

Friends of Ridley Creek 2002

Friends of Ryerson Station 2004

Friends of Shawnee 2011

Friends of Shikellamy 2007

Friends of the State Line Serpentine 2009 Barrens Friends of Swatara 2011-2014

Friends of Varden 2011

Friends of Weiser 2010

Friends of White Clay Creek 2012

Friends of Yellow Creek 2010

Associates

Laurel Highlands Snowmobile Club Laurel Highlands Ultra Laurel Mountain Volunteers Loyalsock Ultra Pymatuning Boo Crew

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Index of Names

A C

Abele, Ralph A. · 2 Casey, Ellen · 11 Adams, Beth Ann · 76 Casey, Robert P. · 13, 14, 16 Adams, Patrick · 77 Chapman, Leroy E. · 65 Adolph, William · 84 Chastain, John · 79 Ahner, Curt · 82 Cobb, Samuel S. · 62 Allan, Richard J. · 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 62 Cochios, Ruth · 81 Anna, Jeffrey · 75 Cockerill, James · 79 Arthur, Edmund Watts · 66 Colantoni, Bill · 78 Ashford, Paul · 78 Colton, Henry · 65 Audubon, James · 41 Comoss, Gene · 77 Azeles, Matthew · v Conklin, Robert S. · 62 Cook, Andrew · 43 Corbett, Tom · 43, 50, 52, 53 B Cowan, Samuel · 65 Crossley, William · 79 Barash, Sy · 19 Barkac, Ralph · 77 Barr, James P. · 77 D Barth, Robert P. · v, 75 Beck, Basse A. · 10, 67 Dalton, Rick · 75 Beck. Basse A. · 10 Daltroff, Terrence L. · 77, 82 Berry III, Arthur B. · 33 Davey, Barbara · 2 Biagetti, Thomas · 79 Davidovich, Leo G. · 75, 79 Bickel, Dan · 77 Davies, Richard · 8 Biden, Joseph A., Jr. · 28 Davis, Arthur A. · 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Bixler- George, Danette · 75 Davis, Eleanor · 87 Black, Rudy · 82 Davis, Jim · 75 Blatt, Joseph A. · 61 DeBenedictis, Nicholas · 2, 4, 6, 8, 62 Bleich, Sharon · 75 Deiter, Judy · 82 Bloom, Harold · 7, 35 Demi, Richard · 79 Bobnar, Kayce · 87 Denning, William · 65 Boboige, Fred · 82 Derr, Obediah B. · 75 Bonner, Mike · 78 Devlin, Daniel · 62 Bower, Rory · 75 DiBerardinis, Michael · 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 62, 84 Bowers, Deborah · 76 Doleiden, Robert G. · 78 Bowlan, Kate · 76 Dorsey, Charles E. · 4 Boxx, Linda · 51, 84 Dugan, Gary · 86 Boyes, Karl · 32, 67 Dugan, Kathy · 86 Boyles, Kenneth · 77 Duke, Robin · 76 Bratton, Milford · 61 Duke, Ronald J. · 67 Brindle, Harry "Jake" · 79 Duncan III, Peter S. · v, 62 Bromley, Robert · 75 Dunn, Cindy Adams · v, 28, 55, 56, 62 Brubaker, Rich · 78 Dunn, Dean · 79 Buchanan, James · 14, 65 Dysinger, Ryan · 82 Bucheit, Michael A. · 75 Buckley, Gwendolyn · 77 Bull, Ole Bomeman · 29, 67 E Bull, Ole Bomemann · 29 Burkholder, Kenneth C. · 77 Ehrenhardt, Joseph · 78 Burns, Edwin J. · 77 Elliott, Simon B. · 67 Burnworth, Earl "Pete" · 78 Ellsworth, Burt · v, 82 Bush, Barbara · 12 Emerick, R. Lynn · 62 Bush, George W. · 30 Eshelman, Rose · 84 97

Estheimer, Patti · 2 Healey, Joe · 84 Herrold, Mary · 9 Hershey, Robert · 77 F Higbee, Margaret · 81 Hillman, James F. · 5, 65 Fagley, Paul T. · 80 Hirzic, Christine · 76 Fantasky, Janet · 76 Hoehn, Doug · 77 Farrell, Steve · 75 Hoffman, Jacob M. · 61 Feathers, Barb · 82 Hoffman, Larry · 77 Feld, Authur · 75 Holman, Jr., Alan W. · 14, 66 Ferretti, Ellen M. · 50, 53, 62 Holtz, Jessica · 82 Fetterman, Thomas · 79 Hooper, Martin · 77 Fickes, Roger · 14, 21, 23, 33, 35, 54, 61, 66 Houghton, John · 77 , Dale · 82 Hufman, Robert · 47, 66 Fitch, Jim · 81 Hughes · 76 Fletcher, Donna · 76 Humphries, Karl W. · 79 Ford, Gerald R. · 16 Forney, Robert C. · 4 Forrey, William C. · ii, vi, 1, 2, 7, 10, 14, 28, 58, 61, 66, 82, 84 I Forsyth, Mary · 76 Foster, Stephen · 11, 66 Ibberson, Joseph E. · 24, 25, 47, 66 Freeman, Hailey · 87 Illick, Joseph S. · 62 Fye, Rodney · 78 Irvis, K. Leroy · 65 Isaac, Kathy · 78 Isaac, Mike · 78 G

Gallitzin, Demetrius Augustine · 67 J Galvin, Denis P. · 8 Gelnett, David · 82 Jacobs, Francis · 79 Gettig, Tara · 80 Jennings, Otto Emery · 66 Gipple, O. Ben · 62 Johns, Jeffery · v Glotfelty, Caren · 84 Jones, Clifford L. · 36, 62 Goddard, Maurice K. · 11, 14, 20, 54, 57, 60 Jones, John Michael · 80 Goodling, Lori · 76 Grace, James R. · 62, 84 Graci, Joseph · v K Graham, John "Jack" · v, 75 Greene, Mathew R. · 55, 77, 82 Kaufman, George · v, 10, 28 Grey, Joseph · 78 Keech, Timothy R. · 77 Grey, Regina · 81 Keegan, Frank · 77 Griffith, Robert · 84 Kelchner, Kathy · 80 Grifo, Gene · 7 Keller, John W. · 62 Grim, Judy · 76 Kelly, Orran · 81 Grove, Elizabeth · v Kelly, Ruth · 81 Guinan, Stephen · 79 Kemmerer, David L. · v, 48, 53, 54, 61, 77 Kilmer, Earl · 75 Kindle, Ian · 80 H Kleeman, Jr., James G. · 77 Klingman, Robert E. · 9 Hallas, John S. · v, 61 Kockler, Kristen · 77 Hamilton, Jr., Joseph G. · 78 Kooser, John · 66 Hann, Dennis · 79 Kovach, Jenny · 76 Harrison, Harry "Chip" · 75, 77 Kromel, Terri · v, 77 Harrison, Leonard · 66 Kury, Franklin · 84 Harrison, Maxine · v Kyper, David · 7 Harrison, William Henry · 5 Hartzel, David · 75, 78 Hawk, Floyd · 78, 82 Hawn, Merle G. · 79 98

L N

Lacasse, Norman · 84 Nelson, James C. · 62 Lambert, Angela · 80 Nolde, Hans · 67 Landfried, Delbert · 78 Norbeck, John W. · v, 28, 35, 40, 48, 61 Lauer, Margaret "Peg" · 76 Norris, Michael J. · 7, 78 Leinbach, Carl · 86 Nygard, Lori · v Leinbach, Pat · 86 Leslie, Harry Z. · 55, 67, 75 Lesniak, Gary · 79 O Letterman, Russell P. · 17, 65 Lewis, Kenneth F. · 78 Oberdorfer, Wilson · 75 Lewis, Samuel S. · 67 Oliver, John C. · 18, 20, 21, 29, 62, 66 Lickel, Conrad R. · 17, 61, 66 Longenecker, Alison · 76 Lord, Rex · v P Loughlin, Ginny · 81 Love, Wil · 2 Ludwig, Monica · 76 Parana, John K. · 79 Lunsford, Stan · 79 Parker, William · 67 Lyman, Isaac · 66 Paterno, Joseph · 13 Lynn, R. Shawn · 78 Pates, James S. · 61 Patterson, Judy · 82 Peffer, Tamara · v M Perry, Oliver Hazard · 5 Peterson, Stanley · 77 Pinchot, Gifford · 3, 62, 64, 65 Mann, Chuck · 82 Pinchot, Mrs. Gifford · 23 Manweiler,Janice · 76 Plum, Robert · 78 Margus, Dale · 82 Preston, Frank W · 14, 66 Masland, Michael · 24 Pritulsky, Wanda · 78 Maurer, Russell · 77 Puhl, Hank · 78 McAulay, Kathy J. · 76 Putch, Pam · 2 McCall, Johnny · 66 Putch, William · 2 McConnell, Brent · 77 McConnell, Clifford H. · 62, 67 McConnell, Thomas · 66 Q McDowell, Curtis · 82 McElaney, Jr., Carl D. · 77 McGehean, John · 79 Quigley, John · 38, 62 McPhail, John A. · 1 Mell, Steven E. · 79 Mickle, Paul · 87 R Miller, Charlie · 75 Miller, David · 79 Ragan, Frank · 82 Miller, Fred · 77 Rankin, David · 78 Miller, Jim · 79 Ravegum, David · 81 Miller, Sandy · 79 Ravenscroft, Kevin · 79 Miller, Thomas C. · 79 Reagan, Ronald · 10 Moczydlowski, Kathy · 82 Redding, Mike · 82 Mohney, Richard · 78 Reilly, Spring · 80 Moll, Wilford P. · 61 Rekich, Jeremy · 77 Montgomery, W.E. · 61 Rendell, Edward G. · 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 Moore, Bryan L. · 78, 82 Renninger, Warren · 86 Morey, Louis · 76 Ricketts, Robert Bruce · 67 Morrison, Ernest · 20 Ridge, Thomas J. · 18, 19, 67 Mosloskie, Tony · 78 Rimby, Mary Ann · 76 Mowery, Marci · v Risley, Jimmy · 79 Mundorf, Bonnie · 76 Ritrovato, Lou · 10 Musto, Raphael J. · 32 Roberts, Dave · 78 Roosevelt, Franklin D. · 19 99

Roosevelt, Theodore · 11, 65 T Roth, Ralph · 81 Rothrock, Joseph T. · 62 Ruppert, Estelle · 80 Taylor, Keith · 75, 77 Rush, Benjamin · 65 Taylor, Wilbur · 75 Territo, Jeffery C. · 77 Thomas, Albert · v S Thompson, William Abednego · 65 Thornburgh, Richard "Dick" · 2, 7, 8 Thorpe, Richard R. · 62 Salvetti, John · 86 Tierney, Vanyla · v, 10 Sariano, David · v Tobin, Bonnie · 80 Sassaman, Greg · v Tyler, George F. · 68 Schiavo, Pat · 78 Schodowski, George · 27 Schrum, Greg · 84 V Schultz, Brad · v Schurr, Carl · 2 Schweiker, Mark · 22, 30 Valko, John D. · 78 Scranton, William W. · 10, 32, 56 Volger, Donna · 78 Scully, Tom · 86 Volgstadt, Genevieve · 75 Seiger, Tammy · 76 von Hausswolff, Eric · 61 Shafer, Raymond P. · 25 Shaffer, Mead · 29 Shapp, Milton J. · 53, 56 W Shock, Terry · 82 Shriner, David I. · 79 Walls, Jerry · 84 Shuman, Cynthia L. · 76 Weiland, Betty · 76 Simon, B. K. · 67 Weiland, Susan · 81 Singel, Mark · 13, 16, 17 Weltner, Clint · 81 Sitlinger, Lisa · 76 Wentz, Terry · 40, 65 Sleighter, James · 78 Whipple, H. Dennis · 79 Slocum, Frances · 65 White, George · 3 Slusarick, Christine · 82 White, Linda · v Smith, Gary · 23, 77 Wible, Ralph G. · 62 Smith, James · 79 Wiediger, John K. · 75 Smith, Ned · 41 Williams, John R. · 61 Solano, Patrick J. · 2, 18, 28, 52, 62, 65 Wills, Bud · 86 Solley, Heidi · 80 Wills, Gwen · 86 Spencer, William · 5 Winter, R.B. · 67 Staley, Lewis E. · 62 Wirth, Walter L. · 61 Stapleton, Jean · 2 Wolf, Tom · 55 Starner, Ross E. · 77 Stauch, Jim · 81 Stebick, Dennis P. · 77 Y Stein, Frances · 42 Stevenson, George B. · 68 Yost, Paul · 86 Strauss, Charles H. · 13 Stuart, Robert Y. · 62 Stull, Jean · 18, 67 Z Stull, Jim · 18, 67 Swain, Toni · 76 Zimmerman, Brian · 82 Zollum, William J. · 78

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Index of Photographs

Caledonia State Park, Totem Pole Playhouse ...... 2 Pymatuning State Park, Gate House ...... 3 Presque Isle State Park, Perry Monument ...... 5 Codorus State Park, Bandshell ...... 7 Take Pride in America Award, Ceremony at the White House ...... 10 Mount Pisgah State Park, Stephen Foster Lake ...... 11 Frances Slocum State Park, Frances Slocum Lake scenic ...... 13 Valley Forge State Park, National Memorial Arch ...... 16 Keystone State Park, Stone Lodge Nature Center ...... 18 Maurice K. Goddard State Park, Lake Wilhelm scenic ...... 22 Tyler State Park, Schofield Ford Covered Bridge ...... 22 Ohiopyle State Park, Great Allegheny Passage Trail Bridge ...... 28 Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, Mansion Building ...... 31 Mont Alto State Park, Envirothon ...... 32 Cowans Gap State Park, Construction of Bathhouse/Concession building ...... 32 Little Buffalo State Park, Roger Fickes Office and Visitor Center ...... 34 Delaware Canal State Park, Lock No. 11 ...... 34 Presque Isle State Park, Tom Ridge Environmental Center...... 35 Gold Medal Award ...... 40 Bald Eagle State Park, The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle ...... 42 Elk Country Visitor Center ...... 42 Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Ironmasters Mansion ...... 44 Kinzua Bridge State Park, Sky Walk ...... 46 Laurel Ridge State Park, Hiking Bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike ...... 48 Hyner View State Park, CCC Statue ...... 49 Point State Park, Fountain ...... 51 Frances Slocum State Park, Patrick J. Solano Environmental Education Building ...... 55

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