Pennsylvania’s 120 state parks under threat

Each year, our state parks and forests give millions of visitors an opportunity to hike, camp, fish, boat, or just relax. From Erie’s Presque Isle to Ridley Creek State Park outside of Philadelphia, and everywhere in between, Pennsylvania’s 120 state parks and 20 state forests are some of the crown jewels of our natural heritage.

Sadly, our state parks and forests face major threats from all sides: potential privatization, severe funding cuts and budget shortfalls, a backlog of maintenance and repair projects, and the threat of Marcellus Shale gas drilling and the clearcuts and pollution that accompany it.

We must protect our state parks and forests

Our elected officials in Harrisburg have allowed funding for state parks and forests to be slashed, and have opened up more than 700,000 acres of state forestlands to Marcellus Shale gas drilling. And now Gov. Tom Corbet is pushing to eliminate the Keystone Fund, a program dedicated to protecting our state parks.

PennEnvironment is standing up for the parks and forests that we love — and making sure that they get the protections that they need and deserve. Alongside our citizen members and activists, PennEnvironment is working to make sure that our state parks and forests are protected and properly maintained for generations to come.

Thousands of concerned citizens have joined our efforts, calling and emailing their elected officials, and making sure that our state parks and forests have a voice and a constant watchdog. Join our campaign and urge your legislators to protect our state parks and maintain the Keystone Fund.

Preservation Updates

Headline

Editorial: Administration right to protect one of nature's wonders

American treasures such as the canyon touch at our identity. To tear at them, however gently, is to tear at our national soul.

> Keep Reading
Headline

Letter: Doing the Right Thing on Impact Fee

The editorial "Legislature dropping ball on drilling fee or tax" (Dec. 18) is absolutely correct. The fact that even the gas industry has publicly supported an impact fee pushes this discussion into the realm of the absurd. The legislature is incapable of passing legislation to generate desperately needed revenue from an industry that is literally asking to be taxed. It would be laughable if the consequences weren't so serious.

> Keep Reading
Headline

Editorial: Legislature dropping ball on impact fee or tax

The failure last week by Harrisburg lawmakers and Gov. Corbett to reach agreement on even a modest impact fee for the burgeoning natural-gas industry tapping the rich Marcellus Shale fields will have far-reaching, negative consequences for Pennsylvania.

> Keep Reading
Headline

Keep Pa. Growing Greener

Pennsylvania is fortunate to be full of priceless natural landscapes.

From the mountains of the Poconos, to the Susquehanna River, to the family farms of Amish farm country, and the historic green fields of Gettysburg — these are the types of places that make Pennsylvania great.

Knowing the incredible value of our state’s natural heritage, it’s shocking to know that elected officials in Harrisburg are on the verge of letting one of Pennsylvania’s most important conservation programs, known as Growing Greener, expire, putting many of these great places at risk.

> Keep Reading
Headline

Gov. Corbett, Keep Our State Parks Public

Gov. Tom Corbett recently told reporters that our stunning state park system tops his short list of state assets to privatize along with liquor stores and prisons.

Pennsylvania’s state parks are one of the Commonwealth’s greatest resources, and we should value them as such. We should be working to repair, restore, expand and improve these places that make Pennsylvania great—not trying to sell them off to the highest bidder.

> Keep Reading

Pages

View AllRSS Feed