Pa. will add 3 new parks to state park system, Wolf admin. says

Three new state parks are in the works for Pennsylvania, state officials said this week. 

Gov. Tom Wolf made the announcement in a Tweet on Tuesday that the commonwealth will make its first addition to its state park system since 2005, bringing the total number of state parks in Pennsylvania to 124. 

The news comes just days after Wolf signed the 2022-23 state budget, which allocates $56 million to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which oversees the commonwealth’s state parks and forests, for infrastructure projects to support the development of three new state parks.

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Administration spokesperson Elizabeth Rementer told the Capital-Star that the funding will also be used for the development of “Pennsylvania’s first park dedicated for use by enthusiasts of ATVs and other motorized recreation vehicles.”

Pennsylvania’s state parks, which saw an increase in visitors at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, have struggled to meet visitor expectations while also dealing with problems associated with aging park infrastructure. 

“Having secured the funding, DCNR is now working to finalize the land acquisitions that will increase the public’s access to close-to-home, healthy outdoor recreation, a need that became very apparent during the pandemic,” Rementer said. “Our state parks are priceless assets that protect open space and natural resources, help people maintain health and wellness, and provide a variety of activities and resources for all.”

Wolf administration officials did not disclose where the new parks would be located.