HAINES TOWNSHIP — Centre County is a hub of outdoor recreation and green space, and the state has awarded a $150,000 grant to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to use toward keeping it that way and improving public access to outdoor opportunities.
The grant, which will be put toward purchasing land in Centre County for a recreation area, was announced by Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte) on Sept. 18. The grant was awarded by the Commonwealth Financing Authority under its Greenways, Trails and Recreation Funding Program.
“These funds will contribute to the vitality of our community by playing a significant role in creating an area for hiking, hunting and fishing,” Corman said in a press release. “It’s important that we preserve our outdoor areas so we all have the opportunities to step away from our hectic lives and enjoy our region’s beautiful natural resources.”
The conservancy will use the money toward the purchase of a 263-acre parcel of land near the old village of Ingleby in Haines Township. The grant will be a big step toward making the $1 million project happen, said Michael Knoop, land protection and planning manager for the conservancy.
“It is just really a beautiful piece of mostly forested land with a mountain ridge on the property that provides excellent sweeping views of Penns Valley,” said Knoop.
The conservancy said it has applied for other grants and, along with this state grant, hopes to complete the land acquisition by next summer.
The property includes about a mile of access on Penns Creek, which is a trophy trout stream, and a 1-mile stretch of abandoned rail corridor that is a key link between the Centre Region and the Susquehanna Valley. It also links both regions to the Mid-State Trail. Knoop said the rail trail is an essential link if the state were ever to build a rail-trail system in Penns Valley.
