30 Ways in 30 Days: State Parks

State Parks: Up a Creek Without a Paddle

Thousands of Pennsylvania families would face reduced access to state parks, campgrounds and environmental education centers operated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, if a budget cutback proposed in SB 850 is enacted.

HARRISBURG (June 5, 2009) - In tough economic times, many families look for more affordable vacation options. With 117 state parks, 2.1 million acres of state forest land and 3,000 miles of forest access roads, a nearby outdoor adventure in Pennsylvania could be the perfect solution for that family getaway. 

But what happens if many of those state parks are closed? The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) says that will be the result if Senate Bill 850 were to become law, cutting the DCNR budget by about 17% from the amount proposed by the governor for 2009-10. Since the department's first responsibility is to protect and preserve our natural resources, recreational programs would bear the brunt of such a cut, reducing access to state parks, campgrounds and environmental educations centers.

John Quigley, DCNR's acting secretary, says the Senate proposal would force the agency to close at least 35 state parks and 1,000 miles of state forest roads. That would require DCNR to turn away more than 3 million visitors, including hunters, anglers and hikers. Local businesses, DCNR says, would suffer at least $57 million in lost revenues.

"Closing state parks is a no-win situation - both for the Pennsylvania families and sportsmen and women who would lose recreational opportunities, and for the local businesses around those closed parks that would lose customers," said Jeff Schmidt, Director of the Sierra Club, Pennsylvania Chapter.

Other programs that would suffer if SB 850 is adopted include tree seedling initiatives and gypsy moth treatments, both of which are vital to forest preservation, watershed protection and soil erosion control. The cuts could also force DCNR to furlough state forest rangers.

Contact Jeff Schmidt, Director of the Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter, at (717) 232-0101 or by email at pennsylvania.chapter@sierraclub.org as a resource to talk about the potential impact of budget cuts on state parks.

Return to 30 Ways in 30 Days Service Cuts Will Hurt Pennsylvanians.