FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 12, 2016

Gifford Pinchot State Park wins 2016 Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Award
(Camp Hill, PA) – The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) today recognized the outstanding stewardship of Pennsylvania’s state park and state forest systems by Gifford Pinchot State Park, awarding them the 2016 Park of the Year Award. This year’s award is sponsored by Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney.
Gifford Pinchot State Park, a 2,338 acre full service park, underwent key personnel changes in the 2015 season, but the park staff continued to provide exceptional service to the park visitors. Staff members learned to maintain the filtering and chemical treatment process required for the operation of the large water treatment plant, while maintaining park responsibilities and constructing seven full service hookups in the campground.
Gifford Pinchot State Park was honored at PPFF’s 10th annual awards banquet on May 11, 2016 at the West Shore Country Club in Camp Hill, PA.
Other 2016 PPFF Award Winners:
Cliff Jones Keystone Legacy Award: Rob Wonderling
Joseph Ibberson Government Award: Penn Nursery
President’s Award: Greenwood Furnace State Park Complex
Forest of the Year Award: Tuscarora State Forest
Volunteerism-Improvement Award: The Ridge Runners of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
Volunteerism-Individual Award: Stephen Smetana
Volunteerism -Group Award: S.O.N.S. (Save Our Native Species) of Lake Erie, Presque Isle State Park
Volunteerism -Education Award: Pamela Karhan, Cherry Spring State Park

About the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Founded in 1999, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation supports 120 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest by coordinating volunteers, activities, and donations through its 40 chapters. The mission of the foundation is to inspire stewardship of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests through public engagement in volunteerism, recreation, and conservation. paparksandforests.org @PaPFF