LETTER: Reauthorize funding to preserve parks
Labor Day is a special weekend for families, where many Pennsylvanians will spend time outside visiting the state’s scenic landscapes and national parks.
What many Pennsylvanians may not realize is many of these important natural heritages have been preserved through a program called the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), including places like Valley Forge, Gettysburg, and Flight 93 Memorial. Locally, it’s helped fund more then $1,214,814 in protection and maintenance of Mingo Creek County Park, Washington Park and Canonsburg Community Park.
Unfortunately, without congressional action this fall, LWCF will expire and put many of the greatest places here and across the country at risk.
For decades, LWCF has protected the places we love and cherish. Now we must protect LWCF.
I hope that concerned citizens will call and email their congressmen, Sen. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, and Rep. Mike Doyle, and ask them to reauthorize LWCF this fall.
Jessica Bellwoar
Bellwoar is conservation associate at PennEnvironment in Philadelphia