The Senate Tuesday unanimously adopted Senate Resolution 404 offered by Sen. Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin) recognizing the invaluable contributions the 29 National Parks and Pennsylvania’s award-winning State Park system make to Pennsylvania’s communities and in the lives of our citizens.

Ironically, the same day, the House considered House Bill 2013 (Ellis-R-Butler) that the PA Parks and Forests Foundation and the PA Environmental Council call a “frontal assault on why Pennsylvania’s State Parks are so successful” by opening the parks to private development.

The text of the resolution follows--

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the month of August 2016 as "National and State Park Month" in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and the important role the 29 National parks and 120 State parks play in our communities and our lives.

WHEREAS, The National Park Service was founded on August 25, 1916, by President Woodrow Wilson with the mission to "conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations"; and

WHEREAS, To celebrate the lOath anniversary of the National Park Service, all its sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission days to everyone; and

WHEREAS, The National Park System covers more than 84 million acres and is comprised of 409 sites with 28 different designations, including: 128 historical parks or sites, 78 national monuments, 59 national parks, 25 battlefields or military parks, 19 preserves, 18 recreation areas, 10 seashores, 4 parkways, 4 lakeshores and 2 reserves; and

WHEREAS, In 2015 more than 305 million people visited a national park; and

WHEREAS, Annual visitor spending in communities within 60 miles of National Park Service sites supports more than 240,000 jobs, mostly local, and contributes approximately $27 billion to the National economy; and

WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, the first State park at Valley Forge opened in 1893 and was given to the National Park Service for America's bicentennial in 1976; and

WHEREAS, Since 1893 the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks has blossomed into one of the largest state park systems in the nation with 121 parks covering 61 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties; and

WHEREAS, State and national parks are dedicated to enhancing our quality of life through recreation programming, leisure activities and conservation efforts; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of August 2016 as "National and State Park Month" and affirm the great societal value these parks play in the lives of the citizens of the United States and of this Commonwealth.

NewsClips:

House Rejects Plan To Commercialize State Parks

Crable: Legislature Defeats Bill To Allow Development In State Parks

PA Lawmakers Reject Bill To Open State Parks To Private Development

Should PA Allow Water Parks, Golf Courses In State Parks?

Bill To Bring Private Development To State Parks Ready For House Vote

House Considering Private Development In State Parks

GOP Legislators Want To Put Golf Courses, Water Slides In State Parks

Swift: House Panel Revives State Park Development Idea

Editorial: Set High Bar For Private Development In State Parks

Related Stories:

House Defeats Bill Opening State Parks To Private Development 123 to 77

HB 2013 Remains A Frontal Assault On Why PA State Parks Are So Successful

PA Parks & Forests Foundation: What State Parks Really Need, Hint: It’s Not Golf Courses & Water Slides

PA Parks & Forests Foundation Letter To Gov. Wolf On HB 2013

Fmr DCNR Secretary Oliver, PEC, Parks & Forests Foundation Oppose HB 2013

7/4/2016