In an exciting move that will preserve the entire 118-acre farm in Washington Crossing in Upper Makefield Township that had been home to the David Library of the American Revolution (DLAR) since 1974, an Agreement of Sale has been co-signed by Heritage Conservancy and Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to acquire the property from DLAR. The read more
10
August
9
July
Land Added to Expand Nockamixon State Park
Natural Lands announced in early July 2020 the purchase of two properties totaling just over 14 acres that were then transferred as additions to Nockamixon State Park. The properties, which are both immediately adjacent to the Park, were at risk for development but are now protected forever. “Over the past few months, as the coronavirus turned things upside down, we’ve read more
2
May
DCNR Announces Plan for Reopening Some State Park, Forest Facilities
On May 2, 2020, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced a phased reopening of state park and forest facilities in keeping with Governor Wolf’s direction to ensure that Pennsylvanians have opportunities to safely enjoy outdoor recreation as a way to maintain positive physical and mental health. “As the weather read more
24
March
State Park and Forest Open Spaces Are Open but Subsidiary Facilities Are Closed
On March 23rd, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that all facilities at state parks and forests in Pennsylvania will be closed until April 30 to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The public will still be able to access trails, lakes, forests, roads, and parking areas for passive and dispersed read more
13
March
DCNR Announces Measures for State Park, Forest Programs as Part of COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts
Amid concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today announced that effective Friday, March 13, all public programs, events and trainings in state parks and forests will be canceled for the remainder of March, and the month of April. With the exception of three state parks in read more
15
August
Natural Lands Transfers 59 Acres of Land for Public Use
On August 15, Natural Lands announced the conservation and transfer of 59 acres of formerly private land to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The land will now be available for public use and forever protected from development. The first property is an eight-acre parcel owned by the Keller family and is immediately adjacent to Nockamixon State Park in Haycock Township, Bucks read more
19
February
Natural Lands Protects Addition to Marsh Creek State Park
On February 19 Natural Lands announced that it has purchased and transferred a 57-acre property to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as an addition to Marsh Creek State Park. Located in Wallace Township, Chester County, the land was slated to be developed. Now as part of the state park, it will be open to the public for hiking, birdwatching, horseback riding, read more
29
January
New Report: State Parks and Forests Face $500 Million Maintenance Backlog
On January 28, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation unveiled a new report on the maintenance needs of state park and forest infrastructure titled The Legacy of Pennsylvania Parks and Forests: The Future is in Our Hands. The event took place in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg and featured a slate of speakers who highlighted the need for increased funding for park and read more
2
January
WPC Protects 281-Acre Addition to Laurel Ridge State Park
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy recently protected nearly 300 acres in Somerset and Fayette counties near the summit of Laurel Ridge and many popular Laurel Highlands outdoor recreational destinations. The land will be transferred to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks as an addition to Laurel Ridge State Park next year. This read more
4
October
DCNR Unveils Energy-Efficienty Projects at State Parks and Forests
On October 3, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined officials from the Department of General Services and Bureau of State Parks to highlight major energy- efficient upgrades at Ohiopyle State Park’s visitor center. The heavily visited Fayette County facility is the first in the three-stop Sustainability Tour planned by the read more
13
June
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Protects 205 Acres in Laurel Highlands
This week the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced the protection of two properties totaling 205 acres in Dunbar Township, Fayette County that conserve forested ridges and headwater streams and expand both State Game Lands 51 and Ohiopyle State Park. A 72-acre forested property with extensive stream frontage on Bruner Run, a headwater stream to the Youghiogheny River, read more
8
May
House Resolution Recognizes 125th Anniversary of State Forest and Park Systems
Last week, Representative Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) introduced House Resolution 901 recognizing the 125th anniversary of Pennsylvania's state forest and state park systems. "This resolution commemorates the internationally recognized conservation efforts initiated in the Commonwealth by the General Assembly and Governor Robert Pattison in 1893, and the contributions of read more
15
January
Countryside Conservancy Acquires 82-Acre Preserve
Countryside Conservancy recently announced the acquisition of its single largest property to date: the Gardner Spencer Preserve. After years of discussions, negotiations, grant-writing, and fundraising, the Conservancy was finally able to purchase the 82-acre property in December. Grant funding from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources helped with the read more
3
January
Environmental Defense Foundation Files Petition with Pennsylvania Supreme Court
The group fighting to conserve Pennsylvania’s public forest and park lands asked the state’s highest court for help again today. The Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation obtained a landmark ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court six months ago. The court declared that money from the sale of natural resources such as natural gas on Pennsylvania’s public forest and read more
28
July
NBLT Conserves Camp Kresge
On July 28, North Branch Land Trust (NBLT), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA, completed a conservation project on the YMCA’s Camp Kresge property in Dennison Township, north of White Haven. The purpose of Camp Kresge’s 647-acre conservation easement is to protect the natural and scenic read more
