Bureau of State Parks

John Norbeck, Director
David Kemmerer, Assistant Director
David Sariano, Assistant Director

8th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building
P.O. Box 8551
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8551
Phone: (717) 787-6640
Fax: (717) 787-8817

Our Bureau's Mission

The primary purpose of state parks is to provide opportunities for enjoying healthful outdoor recreation and to serve as outdoor classrooms for environmental education. In meeting these purposes, the conservation of the natural, scenic, aesthetic, and historical values of the parks should be given first consideration. Stewardship responsibilities should be carried out in a way that protects the natural outdoor experience for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

Who We REALLY Are

• Park and Assistant Park Managers
• Regional and Assistant Regional Park Managers
• Environmental Education Specialists
• Field Training Coordinators
• Park Maintenance Staff
• Park Rangers
• Purchasing Agents
• Artist Illustrators
• Landscape Architects
• Systems Coordinators
• Administrative Support Staff

Services We Provide

Park Operations and Maintenance
Contact: David Barrett, (717) 783-3307
This division is responsible for the development and implementation of rules/regulations, policies/procedures and standards that govern the operation of the state park system. The parks’ safety program, outdoor recreation program, reservation and revenue system, and concessionaire and lease programs are all coordinated and managed by this division. Furthermore, this group takes responsibility for the management of the bureau’s volunteer, uniform, swimming and lifeguard, visitor/employee safety and training programs.

Outdoor Programming Services
Contact: Sarah Hopkins, (717) 783-4356
This division implements an extensive environmental education, interpretive and recreation program that creates outdoor connections for the citizens of the Commonwealth, promotes statewide land conservation and improves stewardship and management of state parks and forests. Four environmental education centers and 19 state parks offer year-round environmental learning and recreational experiences for people of all ages. In addition, seasonal environmental educators and interpreters can be found offering programs at 46 different state park sites.

Environmental Education Center Contact Information:

• Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, Wind Gap
  Contact: Mike Jones, (610) 746-2806
• Jennings Environmental Education Center, Slippery Rock
  Contact: Dave Johnson, (724) 794-2011
• Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, Carlisle
  Contact: Scott Hackenberg, (717) 486-4471
• Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, Reading
  Contact: Daniel Hewko, (610) 796-3699

Resources Management and Planning
Contact: Bob Barth, (717) 787-6674
This division is responsible for the long-term stewardship of the natural resources base. This tremendous task is addressed by developing and implementing park management plans and resource management plans and policies; providing comprehensive planning (including feasibility studies); and conducting environmental assessments. Proper protection of the state parks’ natural resources includes aquatic and wildlife management, terrestrial weed management, oil/gas/mineral leasing, species collection permitting, natural area management, and wetland and lake management.

These actions help to ensure that recreational facilities can be used and enjoyed by all park visitors while conserving and, where appropriate, preserving the natural resources for future generations.

Important Bureau Publications

• Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests Recreation Guide
• State Park Mini-Maps and Park Guides