Philly Leader

Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that three new parks will be added to the Pennsylvania state park system, in what is a $45 million investment that will conserve nearly 3,500 acres of natural and cultural resources.

According to a release by Wolf on Sept. 27, Wolf has added four state parks during his time in office. This is more than any other governor in the past 40 years. The newest additions are the Susquehanna Riverlands in York County, Vosburg Neck in Wyoming County and Big Elk Creek in Chester County. The names of the parks will be decided during the planning process. There are now 121 parks in the state-park system.

“Our beautiful state parks are among the finest in the nation,” said Wolf. “I’m proud to have secured funding in my final budget to make this investment in our park system which will not only preserve invaluable natural resources and habitats for wildlife but provide in-demand access for Pennsylvanians to enjoy the beauty of nature and recreational opportunities.”

Overall, in Wolf’s final budget he invested a “historic” $696 million in conservation, recreation and preservation. 

The Susquehanna Riverlands in Hellam Township is 1,100 acres of mostly wooded tract that is where Codorus Creek flows into the Susquehanna River. It was acquired with help from the Lancaster Conservancy. The area is next to Hellam Hills and Wizard Ranch, and the combination of the three nature preserves protects that is the last wooded area along the river between Harrisburg, York and Lancaster.

“By working side by side with DCNR, we are creating a conservation landscape that future generations will benefit from,” said Phil Wenger, president of Lancaster Conservancy. “Conservation needs both public and private organizations to partner to offset the impact increased development has on water and air quality, as well as ecological decline, to ensure our natural world doesn’t disappear before our eyes.”

The Vosburg Neck location is the first state park in Wyoming County. It includes 669 acres that were acquired with the help of the North Branch Land Trust. There are scenic areas to hike, a walking area along a former railroad, shared-use trails and public water access.

Big Elk Creek is 1,712 acres that were bought through the Conservation Fund with help from the Mt. Cuba Center and Chester County. It was part of the Underground Railroad and also a transportation area for indigenous people for thousands of years.

“Each new park site is unique in its value to a great system,” said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “All of the new parks are steeped in cultural pre- and post-Colonial history, centered around important water resources and represent fantastic natural resource value.”