NEWS RELEASE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Terry Brady
DCNR Deputy Press Secretary
(717) 772-9101

NEW PARK MANAGER APPOINTED AT MOUNT PISGAH STATE PARK

HARRISBURG (February 14, 2000) --On behalf of Gov. Tom Ridge, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Executive Deputy Secretary for Parks and Forestry John Plonski today announced the appointment of a new park manager for Mount Pisgah State Park in Bradford County.

Kenneth Gwin, who has been a state park ranger at French Creek State Park in Berks and Chester counties since 1993, took over duties at the 1,300-acre park last year. He replaced Bob Deffner, who became park manager at R.B. Winter State Park in Union County.

"Given Ken's experience as a park ranger over the past six years, we have no doubt that he will make an excellent park manager," Plonski said. "He has the skills needed to help ensure that Mount Pisgah will continue to be an important part of our state-park system."

Gwin started with Pennsylvania's state-park system as a ranger at French Creek State Park, Berks County, in December 1993. During this time, he attended Albright College in Reading, Berks County, where he graduated in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in environmental science. Prior to becoming park manager at Mount Pisgah, Gwin served as a park manager trainee in Butler County, and Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette and Somerset counties.

Gwin will oversee operations and maintenance at the day-use park, and manage full-time, seasonal and volunteer workers.

"Mount Pisgah is a beautiful park," Gwin said. "My appointment here gives me a chance to gain experience with a variety of programs while enjoying the support of an outstanding veteran staff."

Mount Pisgah offers pool swimming, as well as hiking, snowmobile and cross-country skiing trails. The park's 75-acre Stephen Foster Lake offers fishing and boating year round. Songwriter Stephen Foster wrote "Camptown Races" for a town in the vicinity of Mount Pisgah State Park.

For more information about Mount Pisgah State Park, call the park office at (570) 297-2734, or visit DCNR through the Pennsylvania web site at www.state.pa.us or directly through www.dcnr.state.pa.us (choose Outdoor Adventures/State Parks).

Statewide information and reservations for Pennsylvania's state parks are available by calling 1-888-PA-PARKS from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

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2000