Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined South Middleton Township and Cumberland County officials Wednesday in a conversation about local parks and trails, and the connection to community revitalization efforts.

The visit included tours of Spring Meadows and Iron Furnace parks, a trail that will connect Spring Meadows to the village of Boiling Springs, and the spring known as “The Bubble” that feeds Children’s Lake in the village.

“Local parks and recreation, and nearby trails, make our communities thrive, and this visit to South Middleton demonstrates that connection,” Dunn said. “It’s great that South Middleton and Cumberland County provides close-to-home recreation for its residents, which of course contributes to the health of our children and citizens.”

South Middleton currently is working on a project to provide a new playground and related facilities at Spring Meadows, and recently added about 38 acres to the park, both supported by DCNR grants.

“Providing outdoor and recreational amenities has long been a top priority for South Middleton Township. The local environment not only provides our residents with a sense of pleasure, but actually defines who we are as a community,” said South Middleton Township Manager Cory Adams. “For quite some time, DCNR has been a vital partner for the township, not only in providing financial support for parks and recreational projects but also in offering valuable technical advice and guidance.”

The secretary also viewed about a mile of trail currently under construction from Springs Meadows to Boiling Springs supported by a Cumberland County grant.

“It’s exciting to continue discussions about how to increase the potential to draw visitors to the area to enjoy the local history, fly fishing on the Yellow Breeches, and hiking on the Appalachian Trail that runs through Boiling Springs,” Dunn said.

DCNR provided a grant for an expansion project for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Regional Office and Visitor Center in Boiling Springs. Get a peak of the more than 200 miles of the AT that run through Pennsylvania in a recent Happy Traveler trips video.

South Middleton is a part of the South Mountain Partnership, which was sparked by DCNR’s Conservation Landscape Initiative -- an effort to engage communities, local partners, state agencies and funding opportunities to conserve the high-quality natural and cultural resources while enhancing the region’s economic viability.

The 400,000-acre South Mountain region is at the northern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Dunn noted the department’s Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey maintains a natural springs database which is available to the public through the Pennsylvania Groundwater Information System that includes the Bubble in Boiling Springs.

Visit the Explore PA Trails website for more information on trails and hiking in Pennsylvania.

Applying For Grants

For information on how to apply for similar grants, attend one of DCNR’s upcoming Grant Workshops in November.  Click Here for all the details.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

(Photo: DCNR Secretary Dunn (right).)

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[Posted: Nov. 8, 2017]

11/13/2017