'Save Our Park'
By Sandra Rhodes
Visitor & Member Services
Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau
BRADFORD, Pa. — Kinzua Bridge State Park, the only state park in McKean County, is on the short list for possible park closings. This is a designation the Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau wants to reverse.
The Kinzua Bridge State Park is the home of the Kinzua Viaduct, which was partially destroyed by a tornado in 2003. The park, along with Elk State Park, is a satellite park of Bendigo State Park. All three are listed under the initial evaluation of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as potential candidates for closing due to the changes in the proposed state budget.
“We are devastated at the mere mention that this most historic park, which has already survived one natural disaster, might fall victim to a man-made disaster and be closed,” said Linda Devlin, executive director of the Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau.
Devlin explained extreme effort has been put forth, first before the tornado, to have funds spent to repair and revitalize the structure, and then following the tornado to rebuild the bridge. All of these years of effort have recently started to produce results.
A new vision for this National Engineering Landmark was developed the included revitalizing the existing viaduct structure into a “Kinzua Skywalk” with construction expected to start this summer.
In addition, a plan was developed for McKean County to market as “Trail Central” with a new focus on the 329-acre Kinzua State Bridge Park as the trail hub where all the existing trails and proposed trails would converge. Local volunteers, not-for-profits and the trail associations of the Tuna Valley Trail Association, the Kinzua Valley Trail Group, the Potato Creek Trail Association and the Seneca Highlands Snowmobile Club, have all been working diligently on this goal for the past two years.
“If we lose the hub, the entire wheel breaks down and we’re left with random spokes,” Devlin said.
The centerpiece of the new park would be the revitalized historic viaduct that would be open to foot traffic and would also include the addition of the planned visitor/interpretation center for Kinzua which would allow the Kinzua Gorge to become a year-round destination by providing education displays, classrooms, a small theater and other elements that would be open during all four seasons.
The addition of a center for visitor services and education expands the park’s attraction, Devlin said. Built structures are an important consideration in the county that receives the highest recorded amount of snowfall and the coldest temperatures annual within Pennsylvania.
The visitor/interpretive center is in the design stages. The interpretive themes for the park are engineering, energy and the environment. Displays under discussion include an energy display that showcases the power of wind, which ultimately lead to the downfall of the viaduct. There’s also a long-term plan for a trail among the viaducts fallen towers.
What better way to interpret a natural energy force than a first-hand, up-close walk among the fallen towers, Devlin asked.
The estimated annual visitation will increase 300,000 visitors per year with these improvements.
The economic and culture impact of closing the only state park in McKean County, during a time when McKean County is already experiencing double-digit unemployment is difficult to comprehend, Devlin said.
With an average daily expenditure of $72.75 spend by state park visitors, an annual visitation of 300,000 could mean an additional books to the local economy of more than $21.8 million annually, according to figures gleaned from a study by Charles H. Strauss and Bruce E. Lord titled “Tourism in Northcentral Pennsylvania: Visitor Characteristics and Economic Impacts.”
The development at the park is viewed by local residents and small business owners as one of the few positive bright points in our local economy, Devlin said.
The new developments that are in the plan for Kinzua provide new business opportunities for guide services, small business development, and motor coach tours. Increased visitation to the park will also help support local restaurants, campgrounds and hotels.
The Kinzua Bridge State Park has not reached its full potential in bringing visitors or the value of their tourism dollars to the county. By inclusion on the “short list” everything in the planning states is in jeopardy.
“None of the closings are certain,” DCNR spokeswoman Christina Novak said. “This is to help people understand the possible impacts of the Senate budget cuts.
Senate Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, said he views the announcement of the closings as a “scare tactic” by DCNR. The 25th Senatorial District, Scarnati’s district, includes the Kinzua Bridge State Park.
The news is hitting close to home. Within the Pennsylvania Wilds, 12 possible park closings are listed. The DCNR estimates that 3 million park visitors would be affected by the closings. Visitor spending in the local communities statewide would be reduced by $58 million. A total of 50 parks are on the “hit list.”
One question that lings is what would happen to the money already set aside for the park if it closes. It could go to some other park out of the area. Money earmarked for recreational use, such as parks, will stay within the park system.
“The funding for restoration and development for the Kinzua project has been long time in coming,” Devlin said. “We need to make sure the project stays on schedule and that the funding already in place stays designated for the park.”
The Vacation Bureau is launching a campaign to Save Our Park and is urging all registered voters to contact Gov. Rendell’s office; John Quigley, acting secretary of the DCNR; and all elected state senators and representatives requesting that the Kinzua Bridge State Park be immediately removed from the “short list.”
Should the DCNR close any parks, there would still be access to natural features and associated recreation like hiking. However, such features as campgrounds, swimming, facilities, restrooms, roads and parking lots would not be available. There would also be no maintenance of the facilities, resource management, environmental education or law enforcement at those parks.
It’s also been Pennsylvania’s goal to have a state park within 25 miles of every state resident. This would not be the case for many rural residents, such as those in McKean County, if the Kinzua Bridge State Park closes.
The viaduct was originally built from iron in 1882 and was billed the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” In 1900, the viaduct was rebuilt out of steel to accommodate heavier trains.
The chief engineer of the original construction was Octave Chanute, the same man who whose glider research would later inspire the Wright brothers.
Visitor & Member Services
Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau
BRADFORD, Pa. — Kinzua Bridge State Park, the only state park in McKean County, is on the short list for possible park closings. This is a designation the Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau wants to reverse.The Kinzua Bridge State Park is the home of the Kinzua Viaduct, which was partially destroyed by a tornado in 2003. The park, along with Elk State Park, is a satellite park of Bendigo State Park. All three are listed under the initial evaluation of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as potential candidates for closing due to the changes in the proposed state budget.
“We are devastated at the mere mention that this most historic park, which has already survived one natural disaster, might fall victim to a man-made disaster and be closed,” said Linda Devlin, executive director of the Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau.
Devlin explained extreme effort has been put forth, first before the tornado, to have funds spent to repair and revitalize the structure, and then following the tornado to rebuild the bridge. All of these years of effort have recently started to produce results.
A new vision for this National Engineering Landmark was developed the included revitalizing the existing viaduct structure into a “Kinzua Skywalk” with construction expected to start this summer.
In addition, a plan was developed for McKean County to market as “Trail Central” with a new focus on the 329-acre Kinzua State Bridge Park as the trail hub where all the existing trails and proposed trails would converge. Local volunteers, not-for-profits and the trail associations of the Tuna Valley Trail Association, the Kinzua Valley Trail Group, the Potato Creek Trail Association and the Seneca Highlands Snowmobile Club, have all been working diligently on this goal for the past two years.
“If we lose the hub, the entire wheel breaks down and we’re left with random spokes,” Devlin said.
The centerpiece of the new park would be the revitalized historic viaduct that would be open to foot traffic and would also include the addition of the planned visitor/interpretation center for Kinzua which would allow the Kinzua Gorge to become a year-round destination by providing education displays, classrooms, a small theater and other elements that would be open during all four seasons.
The addition of a center for visitor services and education expands the park’s attraction, Devlin said. Built structures are an important consideration in the county that receives the highest recorded amount of snowfall and the coldest temperatures annual within Pennsylvania.
The visitor/interpretive center is in the design stages. The interpretive themes for the park are engineering, energy and the environment. Displays under discussion include an energy display that showcases the power of wind, which ultimately lead to the downfall of the viaduct. There’s also a long-term plan for a trail among the viaducts fallen towers.
What better way to interpret a natural energy force than a first-hand, up-close walk among the fallen towers, Devlin asked.
The estimated annual visitation will increase 300,000 visitors per year with these improvements.
The economic and culture impact of closing the only state park in McKean County, during a time when McKean County is already experiencing double-digit unemployment is difficult to comprehend, Devlin said.
With an average daily expenditure of $72.75 spend by state park visitors, an annual visitation of 300,000 could mean an additional books to the local economy of more than $21.8 million annually, according to figures gleaned from a study by Charles H. Strauss and Bruce E. Lord titled “Tourism in Northcentral Pennsylvania: Visitor Characteristics and Economic Impacts.”
The development at the park is viewed by local residents and small business owners as one of the few positive bright points in our local economy, Devlin said.The new developments that are in the plan for Kinzua provide new business opportunities for guide services, small business development, and motor coach tours. Increased visitation to the park will also help support local restaurants, campgrounds and hotels.
The Kinzua Bridge State Park has not reached its full potential in bringing visitors or the value of their tourism dollars to the county. By inclusion on the “short list” everything in the planning states is in jeopardy.
“None of the closings are certain,” DCNR spokeswoman Christina Novak said. “This is to help people understand the possible impacts of the Senate budget cuts.
Senate Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, said he views the announcement of the closings as a “scare tactic” by DCNR. The 25th Senatorial District, Scarnati’s district, includes the Kinzua Bridge State Park.
The news is hitting close to home. Within the Pennsylvania Wilds, 12 possible park closings are listed. The DCNR estimates that 3 million park visitors would be affected by the closings. Visitor spending in the local communities statewide would be reduced by $58 million. A total of 50 parks are on the “hit list.”
One question that lings is what would happen to the money already set aside for the park if it closes. It could go to some other park out of the area. Money earmarked for recreational use, such as parks, will stay within the park system.
“The funding for restoration and development for the Kinzua project has been long time in coming,” Devlin said. “We need to make sure the project stays on schedule and that the funding already in place stays designated for the park.”
The Vacation Bureau is launching a campaign to Save Our Park and is urging all registered voters to contact Gov. Rendell’s office; John Quigley, acting secretary of the DCNR; and all elected state senators and representatives requesting that the Kinzua Bridge State Park be immediately removed from the “short list.”
Should the DCNR close any parks, there would still be access to natural features and associated recreation like hiking. However, such features as campgrounds, swimming, facilities, restrooms, roads and parking lots would not be available. There would also be no maintenance of the facilities, resource management, environmental education or law enforcement at those parks.
It’s also been Pennsylvania’s goal to have a state park within 25 miles of every state resident. This would not be the case for many rural residents, such as those in McKean County, if the Kinzua Bridge State Park closes.
The viaduct was originally built from iron in 1882 and was billed the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” In 1900, the viaduct was rebuilt out of steel to accommodate heavier trains.
The chief engineer of the original construction was Octave Chanute, the same man who whose glider research would later inspire the Wright brothers.
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