Hailing what he termed a "perfect example of strong partnerships in action," Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis this week applauded acquisition of a 34-acre tract that expands the adjoining Lackawanna State Park in Lackawanna County.

"This acquisition is made possible through the commitment of the Countryside Conservancy which has a long history of actively preserving and protecting open space around Lackawanna State Park," Secretary DiBerardinis said. "A bucolic mix of pond, rolling fields and mixed hardwood forest now is new parkland thanks to this perfect example of strong partnerships in action."

Popularly known as the Trostle Pond tract, the new parkland is among more than 750 acres in and around the Tunkhannock Creek watershed preserved by the conservancy since its formation in 1994. The group is committed to water and open space protection in Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties.

"Countryside Conservancy was instrumental in protecting the land prior to DCNR's purchase," Secretary DiBerardinis said. "Had it not been preserved through conservancy efforts, there was a good chance this land would have been developed."

Extending Lackawanna State Park's northern border in Benton Township, Lackawanna County, the land acquisition buffers and protects park habitat, including watersheds feeding Lackawanna Lake and Tunkhannock Creek.

"This is a terrific outcome for us and for the park," said Mary Felley, executive director of Countryside Conservancy, which transferred ownership of the tract to DCNR in late January. The transfer price of $226,000 was funded by Growing Greener II.

Lackawanna State Park's 1,411 acres just north of Scranton are the keystone of the four-park Lackawanna State Park Complex in Lackawanna, Wayne and Susquehanna counties. The park hosts year-round environmental education programs; ice fishing is popular on its 198-acre Lackawanna Lake. Other parks within the complex are: Prompton, 972 acres, Wayne County; Archbald Pothole, 153 acres, Lackawanna County; and Salt Spring, 400 acres, Susquehanna County.

For more details on the Trostle Pond acquisition and Lackawanna State Park, call the park office, 570-945-3239.

2/29/2008