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On a party-line vote that took place on May 9th, 2009 the Pennsylvania state Senate approved a budget proposal that will gut funding for our state park and forestlands.

Conservation officials expect that if adopted, this proposal will force at least 35 state parks across the state to shut down--this means that one quarter of Pennsylvania's state parks may have to close their doors.

How You Can Help

There's still time left to stop this reckless piece of legislation that will force the closure of dozens of Pennsylvania state parks. To e-mail your state senator and voice your disappointment with this short-sighted decision, click here. 

Brief Summary

Pennsylvania’s state parks serve as critical habitat for endangered species, protect clean drinking water supplies for communities downstream, and afford recreational opportunities to millions of the state’s—and the nation’s—residents.

Unfortunately, our state parks are under the attack.  On a party-line vote, the Pennsylvania state Senate approved a budget proposal that will gut funding for our state parks and forestlands.  Conservation officials expect that if adopted, this proposal will force at least 35 state parks across the state to shut down.  

With more than 35 parks on the chopping block, that means the state Senate's decision will lead to nearly one out of every four state parks in Pennsylvania closing its doors.

In the current economy, more and more Pennsylvanians are choosing family vacations closer to home, and our state parks and forests are popular destinations. But with this short-sighted decision, more than 3 million park visitors could be turned away, and $57 million could be lost in park-related revenue, not exactly stimulating the economy in our current recession. 

To e-mail your state senator and let them know that we need to be protecting our state parks--now and for future generations--not shutting them down, click here.