Steps Along the Way
WPC's Milestones in 2004
Erie Bluffs and Beyond

Thanks to the efforts of thousands of donors, volunteers and communities, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s reach has been extended in all of our program areas: land conservation, biological biodiversity inventory and research, watershed restoration, community greening, and the preservation of Fallingwater.

In this issue, we observe some of the benchmarks we as a community of conservationists have made in the past year. We do this not as a celebration of yesterday’s successes, but rather as a tangible reason of hope for tomorrow.

• Pennsylvania’s 117th State Park - Erie Bluffs
• 14 County Natural Heritage Inventories Created
• 50 Miles of Streambank Fencing
• 100 Land Stewards Trained
• Threatened Species Discovered in Elk County
• Increasing Our Connections to Volunteers
• Increasing Beautiful Public Landscapes
• Increasing Our Community Partnerships
• Fallingwater and WPC -- 31 Years of Milestones

Pennsylvania’s 117th State Park - Erie Bluffs

On June 4th, 2004, Gov. Ed Rendell officially named the pristine 540 acres along the Lake Erie shoreline “Erie Bluffs State Park.” This newest addition to the state park system is the first in 20 years for Pennsylvania and is numbered as the 117th state park.

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Although the creation of this park is news, the partnership of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to protect open space for the public’s recreational use and enjoyment is not. WPC has been working with DCNR since the first transfer of land that became McConnells Mill State Park in 1956. Other projects include: Ohiopyle State Park, including Ferncliff Peninsula (a National Natural Landmark), Oil Creek State Park, the 300-acre Wildflower Reserve at Raccoon Creek State Park, Moraine State Park, a 310-acre natural area with a relict prairie for Jennings Environmental Center and the conveyance of over 11,000 acres along the Laurel Ridge as part of Laurel Ridge State Park, including the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. DCNR recognizes WPC’s ability to move ahead quickly in sensitive land transactions to ensure lands are permanently protected.

WPC science staff recognized Erie Bluffs State Park in the Erie County Natural Heritage Inventory as an important Biological Diversity Area. The park offers scenic vistas from 90-foot bluffs overlooking Lake Erie, one mile of lake shoreline, rare and endangered plant species and a variety of natural communities. Gov. Rendell described the addition of the state park as helping to create a better quality of life for Pennsylvanians. With its proximity to Presque Isle State Park, one of Pennsylvania’s most highly visited parks with approximately 4 million visitors each year, and the new Tom Ridge Center (an education, research and visitor center), this winning combination of recreation and education will encourage visitors to the Erie region.

Go to our next 2004 milestone
14 County Natural Heritage Inventories Created