Parks, Recreation And Forest Groups Oppose Budget Cuts, Natural Gas Leasing - Video Blog

Groups supporting State Parks, State Forests and recreation facilities around the state this week highlighted the damage proposed budget cuts would do to recreation resources and expressed concern about the accelerated leasing of State Forest land for Marcellus Shale drilling.

Marci Mowery,PA Parks and Forests Foundation, said the groups game to the Capitol to both celebrate the legacy of the State Park and Forest system and protest its proposed demise.

She said the budget cuts being proposed are equal to returning the size of the State Park system to what it was in 1965, before Maurice Goddard began his initiative to put parks within 25 miles of all Pennsylvanians.

"While closures have not yet happened, we are seeing a loss of services," said Mowery. "Almost 200 wage staff in the Bureau of Forestry are on leave without pay-- rangers, maintenance staff and forest fire suppression staff.

"The same thing is occurring in State Parks-- over 100 wage positions were not filled, parks are carrying 42 salaried staff vacancies, 100 wage staff were cut early and an anticipated 100 will be cut in the Spring. We are seeing campgrounds closing early, portions of parks closing and programs being reduced."

She noted since 1955 revenue from oil and gas leasing on State Forest lands has been dedicated to the maintenance and operation of State Parks and Forests. However, she said, this legacy from Maurice Goddard now stands threatened by taking revenue from Marcellus Shale leases in State Forest and using the funding to balance the budget.

Penn State Professor Andy Mowen said the mental and physical health benefits from outdoor recreation are well documented in national and state studies along with the ability of nearby recreation facilities to reduce obesity and promote physical activity, especially with children.

Patricia Tomes, Rails-To-Trails Conservancy, said recreation facilities like rails-to-trails projects have real economic value to their communities.

"The Oil Heritage Region in Northwest Pennsylvania realizes an economic impact of more than $4 million per year from rails-to-trails," said Tomes. "Our recent survey of the Pine Creek Rail Rail in Northcentral Pennsylvania, indicates the valley enjoys an estimated $5 million in additional revenue from rail users. Current surveys of the Great Allegheny Passage indicate the economic impact for that region could be as much as $20 million per year."

Curt Ashenfelter, Keystone Trails Association, said there are 3,000 miles of hiking trails in Pennsylvania used by some 3.5 million hikers every year.

"Hiking trails are in danger, in particular due to the leasing of State Forest land for natural gas drilling," said Ashenfelter because they break up the forest land with four acre drilling sites.

Judith Schwank, 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, said State Parks and Forests have a significant impact on the quality of life for state residents and make Pennsylvania attractive for businesses seeking to relocate to the state.

Schwank noted programs like the Conservation Landscape Initiative by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources leverage natural resources in entire regions for economic development and tourism. "Investments in State Parks and Forest pay big dividends," said Schwank.

Cynthia Carrow, Western PA Conservancy, said her group has been instrumental in creating some of the state's largest State Parks with the help of millions of dollars in private donations.

She called the State Park system the crown jewels of the state noting Pennsylvania's 117 State Parks, 2.1 million acres of State Forest land and 35.5 million annual visitors yield more than $656 million in economic value to the state's economy.

Donna Morrelli, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, said tax money spent on forests and parks is money spent wisely because they help protect water supplies and water quality.

She noted the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council has called for the preservation of 83,000 acres of forest land in the Pennsylvania portion of the Bay watershed by 2020, but with the cuts proposed in the state budget, Pennsylvania risks rolling back years of progress for short term economic gain.

Robert Griffith, PA Recreation and Parks Society, said the two very best things in Pennsylvania are the State Parks and Forests and while the state did an excellent job in creating the system, it has not provided adequate operation and maintenance funding.

Griffith also expressed concern about the potential impact of leasing thousands of acres of State Forest land for natural gas drilling saying the drilling has the potential to pollute local landscapes and water sources. He recommended the state adopt a natural gas severance tax, rather than accelerate leasing to provide revenue to environmental programs.

For more information, visit the PA Parks and Forests Foundation website. Also read the letter from Lock Haven Mayor Rick Vilello.