Management at RCSP

Over the past few weeks, I've talked a lot about Raccoon Creek State Park and everything it has to offer. But natural areas, as anyone knows who's been to one, do not automatically come with hiking trails and campsites - someone has to manage those. And land like that has to be used: if it's not being used, it's typically up for sale either commercially or privately. So who takes care of RCSP? There's a simple answer, and a not-so-simple answer.

The simple answer is the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PADCNR). It's their trucks you see driving around the park; it's their rangers in the cool Smokey the Bear hats; it's their personnel, typically, if not conducting the programs at least in charge of them. Shane Miller, who I got to speak to a few weeks ago, takes groups on hikes, gives presentations on a variety of usually botanical-related topics, and monitors the plants and biodiversity of RCSP, including identifying and reporting invasive species (which is how I met him). Sometimes the rangers have to do Search-and-Rescue if a multi-day hiker or camper comes up missing.

But what the rangers at RCSP can't do is raise money directly for the park; any money they raise goes to the State Parks system, to be doled out based on the amount of visitors each park receives. So, if Raccoon wants more money for programs or land management, they have to get more people to visit the park.

Enter the not-so-simple answer: friendsofraccoon.org. Friends of Raccoon is a non-profit organization dedicated primarily to bringing those visitors to the park - they promote the park and the events the park holds, they have volunteer opportunities to benefit the park directly through trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and by donating to a specific cause: currently on their website they're highlighting their Playground Fund, to be used for new playground equipment at Raccoon, not just State Park playgrounds.

The primary burden of management of the park falls on the DCNR staff, and it is their responsibility primarily to get more visitors to the park in order to receive more funding to manage it - and they do that in part by offering more than 200 programs a year, whether they be for education, enjoyment of the outdoors, or even merit badges for Boy or Girl Scouts. Friends of Raccoon can help pick up the slack in biodiversity management, as well as promotion of the park.

So, who manages RCSP? Well, if you want to, you do! Visit their website (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/raccooncreek/) and see what they have to offer individuals and groups, or call 724-899-3611 and learn how you can volunteer.