Pennsylvania is spending $45 million to add new state parks at a nature preserve in Tunkhannock, on Big Elk Creek in the Philadelphia suburbs, and along the Susquehanna River near Wrightsville, officials announced last Tuesday.
The additions to the state’s 121-park system will be an existing nearly 700-acre nature preserve on the Vosburg Neck in Wyoming County, a 1,700-acre tract in Chester County, and some 1,100 acres in York County, according to a news release.
The expansion was funded in the state budget that passed in July. They are the first new state parks in Pennsylvania since 2005, not counting Washington Crossing in Bucks County, which was transferred from the state Historical and Museum Commission.
The Vosburg Neck property, known as the Howland Preserve and owned by the North Branch Land Trust, is bordered by an oxbow turn in the Susquehanna River and includes an extensive trail system.
In Chester County, the new park will include 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) of Big Elk Creek, which feeds into the Chesapeake Bay at Elk River. Officials say the creek was long used by indigenous people and was an area of considerable activity for the Underground Railroad.
“There’s going to be a lot of history, a lot of stories to tell,” said Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “And part of the park planning in that one will be, what’s the best way for us to do that?”
The York park, located a few miles from Gov. Tom Wolf’s home in Mount Wolf, is adjacent to large tracts owned by the Lancaster Conservancy — the former Boy Scout camp Wizard Ranch and the Hellam Hills Nature Preserve.
Dunn said the state recently purchased the York County property, assembled the Chester County land over a decade, and is in final negotiations for the Wyoming County tract.
“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to serve the public in a way that the public demands of us,” Dunn said. “People came out in droves during the pandemic and reaffirmed their interest in parks.”
The York park, with the working name Susquehanna Riverlands, costs $20 million in land purchase and development costs, Elk Creek $13 million, and Vosburg $12 million. Their final names haven’t been determined, and the parks are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026.
Dunn said that the money in this year’s budget is the result of an unexpected windfall from gas drilling leases on state forest land.
New state funding is also helping develop a park where people can use motorized vehicles in Schuylkill County, south of Hazleton, and to preserve the state’s large collection of geologic core samples.
This article originally appeared on AP News.
Isn’t it delightful that Pennsylvania is investing $45 million in creating three fresh state parks? It’s like giving the gift of nature to the residents. With historical sites and extensive trail systems, these parks will be the stage for unforgettable outdoor escapades and educational experiences. Personally, I can’t wait to explore these new parks and immerse myself in their rich history and natural splendor. What are you most looking forward to about these new state parks?