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Ryerson hearing Sept. 22

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An open house will be held later this month by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to begin discussion with residents on the future of Ryerson Station State Park.

DCNR and the newly formed “Re-Vision Ryerson” task force started working to re-envision the park and consider what features can be developed to create opportunities for local residents and visitors to enjoy the park after it was determined Duke Lake cannot be restored.

“Public input and participation is essential to this process and we have been impressed by the ideas so far and the willingness from community members to see the park in a different way,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “Outdoor recreation has so many benefits to our communities and economy and we want those opportunities to exist for residents and visitors in Greene County.”

DCNR announced in July that replacement of the dam that created Duke Lake is currently not possible because of continued ground movement and an unstable foundation.

Last month, a task force formed of state and local officials and stakeholders met to discuss the future of the park. The group, originally the Duke Lake Task Force, renamed itself the Re-Vision Ryerson Station State Park Task Force.

“The task force is eager to begin re-envisioning the park and building new attractions at Ryerson,” said Harry Gillispie, a co-chairman of the task force. “We are working on a new approach to make the park attractive to bring residents back outdoors to the park and attract visitors,” he said.

Gillispie noted projects such as building hiking and biking trails, updating campgrounds and improving the pool may be able to be completed in the short term, while ideas such as stream restoration and restoring fish habitat and access could be longer term efforts.

The meeting will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 22 at the West Greene Middle-Senior High School auditorium.

Short presentations will be given at 4:30 and 7 p.m. Residents will have the chance to visit information stations and talk with DCNR staff about options and ideas. A facilitator is assisting with the re-visioning process that will include public surveys and additional meetings.

In April 2013, DCNR and Consol Energy settled a lawsuit related to the impact of longwall mining in the area on the dam. According to settlement terms, the state has no further recourse against Consol for any movement or destabilization of the dam.

Since the settlement payment was not restricted to only rebuilding the dam, DCNR has the opportunity to use the settlement money to make other improvements in the park.

The allocation for dam reconstruction was estimated at about $25 million. That amount has been encumbered through the capital budget process. DCNR is working to ensure it can be used for other infrastructure projects at Ryerson Station State Park.

Ryerson Station State Park has a swimming pool, rustic camping and camping cottages and environmental education programs in the summer. It is open for hunting and provides many winter activities.

For more information about the park, visit the DCNR website at www.dcnr.state.pa.us and choose “Find a Park.”

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