IT'S NICE WE HAVE CHANGE NOW. NOW THE WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA ARE NOW THINKING ABOUT CLOSING DOWN UP TO 50 RECREATION AND FISHING PARKS, SO NOW WE WON'T BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE BEAUY OF THIS STATE WITHOUT PUTTING OUR SAFETY AND THAT OF OUR FAMILIES AT RISK BECAUSE THERE WON'T BE ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAVELING THROUGH THE PARKS AND NO RESTROM FACILIES TO USE.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR CHANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
35 to 40 state parks may be closed; names released
By ROSCOE BARNES III Staff writer
Click photo to enlargeOpen? Colonel Denning State Park is on the list for possible closure due to... (Public Opinion/file)«1»HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on Wednesday released a list of nearly 50 state parks from which 35 to 40 could be closed as a result of the Senate's budget cuts.
In addition to park closings, park offices, including the DCNR offices, could see a cut in personnel, according to the Chris Novak, DCNR spokesperson.
DCNR released the list as part of a response to state Sen. Mary Jo White, who had inquired about the closings, among other things. White, a Republican, represents the 21st Senatorial District and serves as chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
Some of the area parks that made the list include Whipples Dam, Trough Creek, Samuel S. Lewis, Big Springs, Colonel Denning, Greenwood Furnace, Warriors Path, Fowlers Hollow and Penn-Roosevelt.
Area parks such as Caledonia, Mont Alto, James Buchanan and Cowans Gap did not make the list.
A number of the parks were notified of their status on Tuesday. Novak confirmed Tuesday that "internal notifications" were made by DCNR.
White had asked DCNR: "Please identify the 35 parks that will close should Senate Bill 850 be enacted."
In response, Acting Secretary John Quigley wrote:
"During our initial evaluation of the effects of the bill, we examined our entire operation in the Bureau of State Parks (including central office staffing levels that would also be reduced in response to SB 850). The criteria we looked at
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are the budget of each park, attendance, income generation, cost per visitor ratio, services offered, and geographic location and proximity to other parks with similar services.
"Through that analysis, we identified 50 parks that we felt needed further study and prioritization depending on final budget numbers. The appropriation provided in SB 850 would require closing 35-40 parks."
Once the parks are closed, they will still be accessible in certain areas by visitors such as hikers. The parks' campgrounds, swimming facilities, restrooms, roads and parking lots will not be available to use. They will be locked or posted.
According to DCNR, there also will be no public services such as maintenance of facilities (built or natural), no resource management, environmental education or law enforcement on the sites.
DCNR further notes: "If the Governor's budget is enacted, we would reduce some management services within the central and regional offices and substantially reduce park level services to minimal levels at five to six parks."
The senator also asked about the parks charging fees as a way to generate revenue and help prevent closings. In its reply, DCNR said the state parks have always offered free access to the public for day use activities.
"However, in response to past inquiries, DCNR has evaluated the fee concept on a number of occasions and has come to the same conclusion: Our parks are ill designed to collect fees.
"Although the implementation of entrance fees could generate revenue at a few locations, the amount of revenue generated after the associated costs are deducted would be minimal at best."
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Roscoe Barnes III can be reached at 262-4762 or rbarnes@publicopinionnews.com.
The hit list
Pennsylvania State Parks identified for possible closure
Parks '08 attendance
Bendigo 35,669
Elk 20,958
Kinzua Bridge 44,433
Blue Knob 431,738
Clear Creek 136,702
Colonel Denning 61,864
Fowlers Hollow 30,325
Big Spring Delaware Canal
(Black Eddy ONLY) 521,080
Ralph Stover 200,077
Evansburg 661,143
Greenwood Furnace 199,607
Penn Roosevelt 37,637
Whipple Dam 102,528
Kettle Creek 97,179
Ole Bull 82,444
Linn Run 195,950
Laurel Summit 23,223
Laurel Mountain 43,229
Little Pine 107,680
Hyner Run 63,350
Hyner View 36,070
Upper Pine Bottom 1,085
Memorial Lake 155,599
Swatara 64,639
M K Goddard 209,570
Mt Pisgah 64,076
Oil Creek 124,364
RB Winter 138,103
McCalls Dam 2,446
Sand Bridge 17,513
Ravensburg 30,413
Reeds Gap 64,450
Poe Paddy 38,135
Poe Valley 1,523
Ryerson Station 44,230
Sizerville 103,677
Tobyhanna 203,611
Gouldsboro 89,289
Big Pocono 112,591
Yellow Creek 203,053
White Clay 68,040
Norristown
Warriors Path 38,017
Trough Creek 61,252
Prompton 13,750
Salt Spring 30,682
Archbald Pothole 38,205
Sam Lewis 117,357
Erie Bluffs Central & Regional Offic
