Secretary of DCNR applauds purchase of land to expand Shikellamy Overlook
SUNBURY – A local conservation group and some local elected officials received praise from the DCNR for the recent purchase of land that will expand the Shikellamy Park Overlook. Cindy Dunn, secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was the guest speaker at the annual dinner meeting of the Merrill W. Linn Land & Waterway Conservancy recently.
Dunn said, “The opportunity that you guys saw first, the Merill Linn Conservancy saw, was great leadership with great local conservation leaders and I really applaud you for bringing it to us.”
The Linn Conservancy worked with the Union County Commissioners and the Union County Planning Department to purchase the 36 acres adjacent to Shikellamy State Park overlook in Union Township for park expansion. The land was then conveyed to DCNR for their management.
Dunn said the DCNR needed to contribute $250,000, even though the money wasn’t in place, “The state park staff came up and showed me a map of Shikellamy State Park and said there’s a special opportunity coming your way and the past administration said there is no money for it. Frankly, there was no obvious money for it, but sometimes, when you seen an opportunity of a lifetime, you just have got to make it happen. You just have got to say yes and figure out how to make it happen later.”
Dunn said it was a no-brainer for her to make this land purchase possible, “The Shikellamy State Park, to me, has always been a holy place. I’ve canoed to the park both from the north branch, coming down from New York and from the west branch, coming down from Renovo. That meeting of the river is a holy place. That view up the west branch and the view up the north branch is so unique and rare in Pennsylvania. It’s one of the eastern United States’ largest river systems. It’s one of the most magnificent views in the whole state of Pennsylvania and beyond.”
Dunn recognized those who made it possible, “When you go there in the future and look at that view, when the properties are open to the public, you need to think about the important role you played in bringing this into the public domain for future Pennsylvanians.” The land was formerly owned by Richard and Miranda McGinnis and hosts one federally endangered bird species. The land will not be developed and will become part of the Shikellamy State Park. (Ali Stevens)
