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Plans ‘on hold’ for visitors center at state park |
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Written by Publisher
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Wednesday, 28 October 2009 |
Photo by Ted Lutz
Landscaping work already is under way at the new elementary school in Kane. Workers add several plants near the flagpole at the school, which is being built as an addition on the east side of the Kane Middle School.
MT. JEWETT – After tornadoes toppled the midsection of the Kinzua Bridge in 2003, visits declined at the state park named for the historic railroad span across the Kinzua Creek gorge.
To bring back the visitors and spur tourism, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) initiated a two-phase project at the 329-acre state park near Mt. Jewett.
As reported by The Kane Republican last week, work now is under way on the first phase, which includes a glass-floor observation deck atop six remaining park-side bridge support towers.
But the second phase — a visitors center, administration building and pedestrian trails — has been put “on hold” due to budget issues, a DCNR spokesman told The Kane Republican.
“The design of the visitor center — the second phase of improvements at Kinzua — is on hold at the moment related to budget considerations,” DCNR Press Secretary Christina Novak said. She said Tuesday that “no timetable” has been established for resuming design work on the project. This means there is no firm date for the start and completion of the “phase-two” project.
Although construction is under way on the first phase of the project, there also is a chance that Kinzua Bridge State Park could be one of the state parks closed due to DCNR budget constraints.
The new state budget cuts the DCNR budget by 19 percent. The Bureau of State Parks, which is a part of the DCNR, alone lost $9.3 million in funding from the previous year. This reflects a cut of 15 percent.
Gary Tuma, press secretary for Gov. Ed Rendell, said in a statement that the DCNR would need to figure out on its own “how they can best carry on with fewer dollars they have available.”
“They’re going to have to take a good, hard look at their budget numbers and see what they can and can’t do,” Tuma said.
The DCNR saw a budget increase two years ago. Last year, the agency’s budget was about the same as 2007-08. But this year’s budget cut means the DCNR will need to make some difficult decisions on its services.
The agency already has furloughed seasonal workers without pay earlier than normal and is closing some campgrounds even before hunting season.
Novak told The Kane Republican that the DCNR is reviewing its services to determine “how we change to live within our means” and how operate “most efficiently.”
J.D. Eckman Construction of Atglen, Pa. is the contractor for the phase-one project now under way at Kinzua Bridge State Park, which opened in 1970.
“The contractor is currently working on removing the concrete ‘jackets’ around the foundations of the bridge and new ones will be poured,” Novak told The Kane Republican. “The next step will likely be reinforcing the replacing parts of the steel portions of the bridge.
“Progress will be dependant somewhat on the weather this winter. It looks like they are still on track to finish this first phase up late next year.”
After the towers are reinforced, work could begin on the glass-floored deck that will give park visitors a spectacular view of the valley. Visitors also will see several remaining towers standing on the opposite end of the valley.
“We can never repair what nature tore apart, but we are committed to using the viaduct’s remains and park resources as learning tools for those who visit,” the DCNR said in a previous statement on the project.
The original 1882 bridge was rebuilt in 1900 to handle heavier trains, but the span went unused from 1959 to 1987 when the Knox and Kane Railroad began to operate a tourist train over the bridge. The collapse of the bridge in 2003 also signaled a downturn and eventual end in tourist train travel to the park. The railroad last year sold its rolling stock. The rails, ties and certain rail equipment have been sold to a scrap dealer.
The Kinzua Bridge State Park officially opened in 1970. In 1977, the bridge received national recognition when it was placed on the National Register of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks.
In addition to the interpretation-oriented visitor center, the phase-two project now on hold includes a park office and roads and parking lots.
Jason Zimmerman, now based at Bendigo State Park near Johnsonburg, is the manager for the Kinzua Bridge State Park as well as Bendigo and Elk State Park near the East Branch Dam.
Since plans for the new office at Kinzua Bridge State Park are “on hold” due to budget issues, Zimmerman apparently will remain in the office at Bendigo — unless the DCNR decides to close this facility.
Novak said no decisions have been made about park closures.
During “phase-one” construction at the Kinzua Bridge State Park, the main parking lot is closed. The park, however, still is open to visitors. Parking is available in the designated “overflow” lot at the park. Visitors can walk along a path in the woods to access observation areas on the top of the gorge. The park closes at dusk and no overnight camping is permitted.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 October 2009 )
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