Wolf Administration Discusses How Restore Pennsylvania Could Address Infrastructure Needs Along Lancaster County Waterway

​Ephrata Township, PA – Today, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer toured a potential recreation site along Cocalico Creek and discussed how Restore Pennsylvania could help address such green infrastructure needs in the state.

“Green infrastructure projects require major financial support, the type financing Restore Pennsylvania could provide,” Dunn said. “These improvements are essential to meeting visitor expectations at outdoors venues across the state, and Restore Pennsylvania is critical in addressing infrastructure needs of its communities, state forests, and parks.”

“Connecting people with the outdoors through additional public fishing and boating access is a priority, especially in areas that are underserved or underutilized,” said Schaeffer. “Projects that combine new recreational opportunities with infrastructure enhancements that lead to better water quality and protect aquatic resources long-term are the most effective and valuable.”

Restore Pennsylvania is a statewide plan to aggressively address the commonwealth’s vital infrastructure needs. Funded through a commonsense severance tax, Restore Pennsylvania is the only plan that will help make Pennsylvania a leader in the 21st century.

Ephrata Township is considering a section of land along Cocalico Creek for potential water- and trail-based recreational development that could provide future boating, fishing, and hiking to area residents and township visitors.

Walking the site with Schaeffer and township officials, Dunn noted Restore Pennsylvania could provide green infrastructure funding for improvements such as flood plain restoration, stream bank stabilization, forest buffer, non-motorized boat access development, and a fishing pier.

The DCNR secretary also noted plans call for a pathway connection to the existing 8-mile-long Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail. DCNR already has invested three grants to municipal partners for approximately $500,000 to help fund certain sections of the trail, now open to the public and connecting Ephrata and Lititz.