State park funding up, conservation a focus
The recently passed state budget has allocated about $61 million to state parks this year, which is an increase of 12 percent compared to the previous budget.
This has Dustin Drew, manager of Moraine and McConnells Mill state parks, optimistic. In addition to the increase in the state’s allocation, which funds regular operational costs at the parks, there is an additional $135,000 in COVID-19-related funding that will focus on conservation within Pennsylvania.
Drew said the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources chooses what projects to pursue at individual parks, and there is potential that COVID-19 money could be used at Moraine or McConnells Mill.
“One of the promising things is there was a lot of money involved through the federal relief money for more conservation,” he said. “As far as wish-list items, there is a project database at each park that includes everything we want to do in about 10-plus years.”
Wesley Robinson, spokesman for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said the state budget this year has allocated about $693 million to the department.
He said a portion of the $61 million dedicated to parks will be used to address the $4.4 billion in infrastructure needs that exist across the state.
"Ultimately, our whole goal is to make sure we are addressing the needs of the various state parks and make sure everything is operating at an optimal level," Robinson said.
After visiting Moraine on May 3, DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said the park alone needs more than $20 million to complete all the upgrades necessary to keep every facet of the 17,000-acre park operating — that’s because most systems, buildings and facilities are more than 50 years old.
Other essential projects at the park include maintenance of Lake Arthur’s dam works and controls, occasional dredging of the lake, $4.5 million in rehabilitation of the North Shore and South Shore sewer treatment plants, replacement of nine miles of water lines, $1.5 million in road rehabilitation, $13 million in comfort station rehabilitation, work on the docks at Davis Hollow Marina, and upgrades to the bike rental and concession stands.
Robinson said in Western Pennsylvania, Keystone State Park in Westmoreland County will be a focus of infrastructure funding. Keystone, as well as other parks throughout the state with infrastructure needs, will be addressed in the order that projects can be bid out.
"We have some pretty serious needs at a lot of our parks," Robinson said. "It depends on what projects we can bid quickly."
Gov. Tom Wolf announced July 12 that the budget includes funding to create three state parks, adding to the 121 that already exist in the state. The parks are still in the planning stages, however, and the sites have not yet been chosen, according to Robinson.
The state's budget allocation is given to the rest of the parks based on a funding formula that accounts for staffing and general operating costs, Robinson said.
Drew said the state’s budget allocation to parks mainly is for operational costs. He said it is too soon so say if this year’s increase will affect operations at the parks, because “wish list” items are typically funded through other means.
Projects listed for Moraine in the budget include sewage line rehabilitation, which is estimated to cost $1,500, and dam restoration, which is estimated to cost $650.
Drew said capital projects at parks are funded and contracted out quickly because some pose safety and quality of life issues.
“We need work on the existing dams, and that should happen within the year at McConnells Mill and Moraine,” Drew said.
Drew also said the parks in Butler County get funding from local nonprofits and action groups, including the Moraine, McConnells Mill and Jennings Commission and the Moraine Preservation Fund. He said local groups can choose projects at the parks to work on and park administrators act as coordinators — as is the case for the Little Beaver Historical Society, which is working to restore the gristmill at McConnells Mill.
Ongoing projects at Moraine and McConnells Mill include maintenance on local and national trails, like the North Country Trail, which runs through both parks.
Robinson also said that the pandemic spurred the DCNR to reevaluate the needs of state parks based on the wants of the people who visit them. He said studies performed by the department found "people wanted more amenities, more camping."
According to Dunn, 40 million people enjoy Pennsylvania’s state parks each year, and many flocked to those parks during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
Robinson said with more people coming to the parks, the budget figures will help keep the parks — including Moraine, McConnells Mill and Jennings Environmental Education Center — in good condition.
"We take seriously what people are looking for, and that helps us maintain what we have and add more to it," he said. "We're happy to have that investment because we can see the impact of people turning to the outdoors to get some rest and relaxation."
