State park and forest maintenance 'crumbling' amid $1 billion funding shortfall
Pennsylvania’s state parks and state forests contain 3,000 miles of roadways, 4,800 buildings, 860 vehicular bridges, 1,470 miles of hiking trails, 131 dams, 70 sewage treatment plants, 180 boat ramps, 56 swimming beaches and more than 30,000 picnic tables.
But finding the money to maintain, fix and improve park and forest infrastructure and operations has not been a walk in the park and certainly no picnic.
A new report released Monday afternoon by the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation finds that the state’s failure to provide adequate funding for both built and environmental infrastructure needs in state parks and forests has created a $1 billion maintenance backlog.
And that backlog has put at risk outdoor recreation and natural amenities in the state’s parks and forests enjoyed by more than 40 million visitors a year, said Marci Mowery, president of the non-profit foundation that supports 41 volunteer organizations working in and with the state’s parks and forests.
Read more: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2019/01/28/State-parks-and-forests-face-1-billion-maintenance-funding-shortfall/stories/201901270203
