PA DCNR Unveils Plan for Erie Bluffs State Park

HARRISBURG, Pa., -- The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will host a public meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 7, to present a draft of the final master plan for Erie Bluffs State Park, Pennsylvania's newest state park in Erie County.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Girard Township High School, 1135 Lake St., Girard, Erie County.

"Our plan is to create a nature-based park that will allow visitors to experience, understand and appreciate the property's steep bluffs, rocky- cobble shore, undeveloped creek corridors and plateau," DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said.

The master plan includes a proposal to develop a trail network with lake- view observation points for visitors, as well as overnight accommodations that incorporate a small nature inn and group camping, with remote primitive camping provided for backpackers and paddlers.

The entire 72-page plan is available for review on DCNR's web site at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ (choose Find a Park, Erie Bluffs).

In July 2004, DCNR and their partners in the scientific community conducted a two-day effort to document as many plants and animals on the property as possible. This field exercise, in addition to other surveys, provided the information to make sound decisions about the park's future based on scientific fact.

Erie Bluffs became the state's 117th state park in December 2004.

While preparing the master plan, DCNR held two public meetings to seek comment on the future of Erie Bluffs State Park in January and June 2005.

Comments on the draft final master plan will be accepted through Jan. 6, 2006, and should be directed to Jeff Johns, Resources Management Section, Bureau of State Parks, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 8551, Harrisburg, PA, 17105 or jejohns@state.pa.us.