The PA Growing Greener Coalition, the largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations in the Commonwealth, Monday issued the following statement from Executive Director Andrew Heath in response to a June 16 Associated Press article in which Budget Secretary Charles Zogby suggested diverting dedicated funding for open space and parks projects under the Keystone Fund to balance the budget:

“While we do not know the full context of Budget Secretary Zogby’s conversation with the reporter from the Associated Press, the Coalition is concerned that the Keystone Fund may once again be targeted for diversion of funds to plug budget holes.

“Cutting the Keystone Program, that has a 20-year proven track record of success, would be counterproductive to what our state leaders have been trying to achieve by focusing on programs that provide economic growth.

“The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition opposes any raid on conservation, recreation and preservation funds and urges the Administration and legislators to keep funding for Keystone and other similar programs intact.”

For more than two decades, the Keystone Fund has been helping communities protect open space, develop community parks and recreation areas, support libraries, preserve historic sites, and protect and improve state game, forest, and park lands.

Investments in programs such as Keystone generate billions of dollars in economic benefits. A recent study conducted by The Trust of Public Land found that every $1 invested by the Keystone Fund in land and water conservation returns $7 in economic value of natural goods and services.

Moreover, in addition to creating jobs and generating revenue, these programs increase the value of nearby properties, boost spending at local businesses, make communities more attractive places to live, influence business location and relocation decisions, reduce medical costs by encouraging exercise and other healthy outdoor activities, provide low or no-cost recreation to families, stabilize local taxes in the communities in which they are located and help revitalize depressed areas.

For more information, visit the Keystone Fund website.

6/24/2013