Park funding plan spurs concern
Jack Cohen, president of Butler County's Tourism and Convention Bureau, said he was “deeply disappointed” to learn that Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed budget would cut Moraine State Park's budget by nearly 30 percent.
“In 2018-2019, the state park's operations budget was $56,185, and it has been drastically reduced to $39,373 for 2019-2020,” Cohen wrote in an editorial submission that appeared in Monday's Butler Eagle. “Due to the reduction of (Moraine State Park's) budget by $16,812, basic needs like lawn maintenance, educational programs, new picnic tables and park benches will continue to be ignored.”
Cohen called the 16,725-acre park “Butler County's No. 1 attraction,” adding, “Moraine State Park belongs to the people, and we need to do everything in our power to make sure the park gets adequate funding for necessary maintenance, improvements and continued educational programs.”
Cohen was working on Monday to gather a contingent of officials and head to Harrisburg to talk about the proposed cuts with state senators and representatives from the county. Cohen's group will also try to speak to legislators from surrounding counties as well.
“We need to know they're in our corner and they agree (that the budget should not be cut),” Cohen said.
Cohen said he heard from state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th, who agrees with his concerns and said he will argue the point.
According to Cohen, the volunteer-led Moraine Preservation Fund makes improvements to the park and provides educational programs there throughout the year.
“This organization greatly impacts our cities, county, region and state through the preservation of our park, trails and wildlife,” he said.
David Johnston, president of the Moraine Preservation Fund, called the potential budget cut “a jolt.”
“Basic needs such as picnic tables and docks and things like that are going by the wayside because (the state) doesn't put any money into the park anymore,” Johnston said, adding how cuts to state park budgets are nothing new.
“When they look at cutting the budget, that's an area they see as non-essential,” Johnston said.
In 2008, park officials at Moraine State Park cut lifeguards from Lakeview Beach on Lake Arthur's North Shore. Lakeview was the last beach to have lifeguards. Lifeguards were cut at 15 other state parks that year.
Randy Thompson echoed Cohen's sentiments. The Connoquenessing Township resident walks his three dogs daily at Moraine State Park and said he would hate to see budget cuts affect improvements. He said the park needs new picnic tables and those improvements were started last year.“If they're going to cut that much, then the maintenance crews aren't going to be able to do as much,” Thompson said. “I can't believe they want to cut the funding here. I love walking here. It's all the different terrains. The dogs love it.”Dustin Drew, Moraine State Park's manager, said the park is funded by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the budget goes up and down each year.“It's very early on in the process, and I think some of the things that appear to be cut would be funded by other means,” Drew said.He said he is glad that Cohen considers the park to be the jewel of the county.“We certainly appreciate the tourism bureau's support of us and their concern,” Drew said.Yang Chen, a professor at Duquesne University, said he often brings international students to visit Moraine State Park throughout the year. Like Cohen, he considers the park an important resource and tourism draw for Butler County. Chen, who lives in Portersville, jogs and walks at the park several times per week when weather permits.“I've noticed more and more people coming up here from the Pittsburgh area, especially in the summertime,” Chen said Friday morning as he completed his walk along the park's multiuse trail. “There's a lot of people using this park. That (funding cut) is going to be a huge impact in a negative way.”Cohen said the tourism bureau is planning a variety of celebratory events for the park's 50th birthday next year.“That will attract visitors and generate revenue, with all proceeds benefiting the park,” Cohen said.Gov. Wolf's press secretary, J.J. Abbott, did not respond to questions regarding the reasoning for the cuts and other questions.Managing Editor Andie Hannon contributed to this report.
