TheWestern Pennsylvania Conservancyfinalized a land purchase on September 15 that will add nearly 200 acres in the Laurel Highlands toOhiopyle State Park, one of Pennsylvania’s most treasured natural areas.

Located in Stewart Township, Fayette County, the newly acquired 197-acre parcel provides breathtaking views of Sugarloaf Knob, the defining feature of a popular hiking, biking and snowmobiling trail that begins near the Ohiopyle Visitor Center.

Upon closing, WPC conveyed the property to DCNR as a permanent addition to Ohiopyle State Park. More than one million people visit Ohiopyle annually to enjoy the region’s recreational opportunities, natural resources and history.

The land purchase was made possible through funding from DCNR. The acquisition of this tract is a part of a conservation partnership and strategic investments in the landscape known as the Laurel Highlands, an area that includes Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland and a portion of Cambria counties.

9/26/2008