Northhampton News

DCNR Secretary Norbeck looks into the operating challenges of state parks and forests.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Deputy Secretary John Norbeck visited Gifford Pinchot State Park to call attention to the park’s infrastructure needs and how the use of recovery funds could address vital infrastructure needs across the state.

“Our wonderful network of state parks and forests are facing operating challenges because of critical infrastructure needs,” Norbeck said. “Pinchot is one of our premier parks, but it requires millions of dollars in improvements to ensure it continues to be a place that visitors can turn to as a healthy, safe respite. We must invest in our buildings, water systems, trails, dams, campgrounds, bridges, educational centers to maintain visitor comfort and safety on public lands.”

Gifford Pinchot State Park is a 2,338-acre full-service park that consists of reverting farm fields and wooded hillsides, with the 340-acre Pinchot Lake serving as a prime attraction. The park faces a number of infrastructure challenges, including replacing its water distribution system, creating a new water treatment plant, sewage collection, digging new wells, dam repairs, ADA compliance upgrades and other green infrastructure needs.

Norbeck noted Gov. Tom Wolf’s $1.7 billion plan to help Pennsylvania recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes designating $450 million from  the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for conservation recreation and preservation.

DCNR has a documented need of more than $1.4 billion for infrastructure repairs and improvements. Issues such as addressing wear and tear, extreme weather and climate change impacts and high demand for outdoor recreation require investments, which also allow the incorporation of sustainable design and energy efficiency.