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Naming of Luzerne County facility honors support of Sen. Raphael J. Musto
WHITE HAVEN, LUZERNE COUNTY – Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Michael DiBerardinis today joined other state officials in dedicating the Raphael J. Musto Environmental Education and Visitor Center at Nescopeck State Park, near White Haven, Luzerne County.
Named for Sen. Raphael J. Musto (D-Luzerne/Carbon/Monroe), long-time supporter of environmental education and the 3,500-acre park, the new center will serve as the hub of park activities. It will house extensive environmental education programs servicing area school districts and communities, visitor services, and staff offices. “School children from surrounding counties, teacher groups, and visitors from neighboring communities all will be drawn to this beautiful facility to learn more about the bounty of natural resources with which this state is blessed,” said Secretary DiBerardinis. “This gathering today at this unique and beautiful park to dedicate the Raphael J. Musto Environmental Education and Visitor Center is a fitting tribute to a true champion of Pennsylvania’s environment.”
For decades, the 3,500-acre park has been open to the public as an undeveloped park with no facilities. Base construction, including roads, parking lots, water and sanitary infrastructure, and utilities was completed in 2001. Officials broke ground in December 2002 for the $1.5 million center.
“Long ago, myself and others in neighboring communities recognized the potential here for yet another first-rate state park -- the assets of this tract are all around us,” said Sen. Musto. “DCNR has worked closely with the local community, sportsmen and conservation organizations to create a park suited to the region’s needs. I consider it the highest honor to have my name affixed to a building that will better help its visitors protect and enhance this park and other natural resources across the state.”
The original park-development concept, dating back to the 1970s, focused on an 830-acre multipurpose reservoir and full-scale development of the park. After subsequent environmental studies and resource evaluations, the Commonwealth scaled back development to focus on environmental education and low-density, day-use and overnight facilities with an emphasis on the natural attributes of the Nescopeck stream valley.
The park is home to 160 species of birds, 30 species of amphibians and reptiles and over 600 species of plants.
Environmental education staff will offer DCNR’s Watershed Education Program to area high schools, teachers and other groups interested in learning about complex issues within their watersheds. More than 200 acres of wetlands and six miles of Nescopeck Creek will serve as learning tools, and the park will be used as an outdoor
natural laboratory for visiting biologists, college students and resource professionals involved in a variety of biological research projects.
Bordered on the south by Mount Yeager and on the north by Nescopeck Mountain, Nescopeck State Park features a nine-acre lake, nearly 20 miles of trails, and six miles of the high-quality Nescopeck Creek. Park acreage, composed of both state game lands and land acquired specifically for the park, is managed cooperatively with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The majority of the park is open for public hunting and will remain open after development. State game lands also border the park making additional recreational opportunities available.
More information on Nescopeck and Pennsylvania’s other 115 state parks can be found on DCNR’s website: www.dcnr.state.pa.us (select State Parks).