July 1, 2026

A dedicated group of community members started advocating for a skate park in the Borough of State College in 2013. They can now proudly proclaim that High Point Action Sports Park is open.

High Point Action Sports Park is a professionally designed skatepark built to accommodate skateboards, scooters, bikes, and wheelchairs. The park features ramps, bowls, stairs, railings, and ledges that provide opportunities for all riding styles and abilities.

“This is going to change kids’ lives,” said Kim Murphy, a volunteer with the project. “The finishes on the park, the brickwork, the different-color concrete, the native plantings, just all of it makes you feel like you’re in State College.”

A unique and prominent feature of the park is a set of large granite slabs provided by a community member. The slabs serve as grind ledges in the park’s center.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources supported the park with a grant from the Keystone Fund. Improvements also included extensive stormwater management measures to ensure the park will be resilient to storms and to allow features to drain and dry quickly.

Earlier this spring, state and local officials came together to celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated Friendship Park in Bethlehem.

The renovation is part of Bethlehem’s “40 in 10: Every Park in Ten Years” initiative. This ambitious project aims to improve more than 40 parks across the city over the next decade.

The project was made possible by a federal grant from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program as well as a state grant from the Keystone Fund.

Established in 2014, ORLP provides funding to communities—particularly those in economically underserved areas—to expand and improve access to outdoor recreation.

The program supports the creation of new recreational spaces, revitalization of existing parks, and investments that make outdoor activities more accessible.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) staff, the Conestoga River Club, and community members recently came together to celebrate the Conestoga River being named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year.

Selected by public vote, the Conestoga River’s victory highlights strong statewide appreciation for one of Pennsylvania’s most historically and culturally significant waterways.

“The Conestoga River is a great example of what can happen when we prioritize clean, healthy waterways,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “The Conestoga River Club and its volunteers have done amazing work to steward this river, and the river has become a hub for outdoor recreation.” 

Lancaster Conservancy recently released a video highlighting the Conestoga River and efforts to care for it.

The Conestoga flows more than 61 miles from its headwaters in Berks County to its confluence with the Susquehanna River below the Safe Harbor Dam.