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What's Old Is New at Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon County

Posted on: Tuesday, 1 August 2006, 12:00 CDT

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- There's a new attraction at the popular Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon County, but it's not that new.

A recreational pavilion, ideal for reunions and wedding receptions, will be dedicated on Saturday, Aug. 5.

While new to Greenwood Furnace, the pavilion once served the residents of the Valley View Retirement Center in Mifflin County. However, with the efforts of many organizations, businesses and volunteers, the pavilion was able to be relocated from the retirement center after improvements to the Belleville facility made the pavilion obsolete.

"Recycling a pavilion that was slated for demolition is a win for the environment, park visitors and taxpayers," said Greenwood Furnace Park Manager Dan Bickel, who added that the pavilion can accommodate 100 people and features electrical outlets, lights, a large cooking grill, a food service area and running water.

The Friends of Greenwood Furnace and members of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation (PPFF) were instrumental in securing funding and services from local businesses, other state agencies and conservation volunteers.

"PPFF commends the efforts of the Friends of Greenwood Furnace, the volunteers, and the generosity of local businesses in their success in adding a new pavilion at Greenwood Furnace State Park," said PPFF President Marci Mowery. "Friends groups give people a way to work together to make our park and forest system the best that it can be by providing energy, expertise and time to accomplish projects that might otherwise not happen."

Some businesses and volunteers instrumental in the relocation of the pavilion are:

- Bill Dancy, owner and president of J.M. Young General Contractors, who offered the pavilion to the friends group because there was not a suitable site at the retirement center; - Park staff and the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps, who, despite frigid weather, carefully disassembled the structure and moved it to Greenwood Furnace for winter storage; - Jeff Young Inc., Belleville, donated crane and transportation services; and - Bob Miller Welding Inc. of State College and family, who reassembled the pavilion, made a significant contribution for new materials and contributed expertise and more than 700-volunteer hours to the project.

Nestled in the mountains of northeastern Huntingdon County, historic Greenwood Furnace State Park is an area of rugged beauty, abundant wildlife, breathtaking vistas and solitude. The 423-acre park includes a six-acre lake and is surrounded by an 80,000-acre block of Rothrock State Forest. From 1834 to 1904, Greenwood Furnace was a busy industrial community centered on iron making.

For more information about Greenwood Furnace or any of Pennsylvania's 117 state parks, visit the DCNR Web site at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/. For more information about PPFF, visit http://www.paparksandforests.org/.

CONTACT: Dan Bickel, Park Manager

(814) 667-1800

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

CONTACT: Dan Bickel, Park Manager, Greenwood Furnace State Park,+1-814-667-1800

Web site: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/http://www.paparksandforests.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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