I was disappointed to see that the Pennsylvania Senate passed a proposed state budget that is expected to force more than 35 state parks to close.
This will strike close to home, as Penn Roosevelt Park, McCalls Dam Park, Poe Paddy Park and Poe Valley Park in Centre County are on the list of parks that state officials are saying are most likely to close.
As local residents know, these parks are a great resource for hiking, picnicking and other recreational activities. We should be working to improve the resources offered by these parks, not putting it on the chopping block to shut them down.
Pennsylvania’s park system is part of what makes the state such a great place. We have an obligation to protect these parks for now and for future generations of Pennsylvanians to enjoy.
I hope concerned citizens who care about these parks will call their state senators and voice disappointment with their short-sighted budget proposal and call on their state representatives to stop this legislation in the House.
David Masur
Philadelphia
The writer is director of Penn Environment, www.pennenvironment.org.
