UnCommon Wealth - Our Parks

Monday, 21 September 2009 19:55

UnCommon Wealth - Our Parks

Written by Craig Cohen

The six-part series begins on September 27. Burns filmed the documentary over six years and visited some of the country’s most spectacular natural locations. Among the parks documented in the film are Acadia, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, the Everglades, and the Gates of the Arctic. But Burns’ film is not just an exposition of America’s natural beauty and bounty. It also is an exploration of the human stories behind nature’s impressive vistas … the people who appreciated, nurtured, protected, and yes, even commercialized our natural wonders.

PBS’ promotional material states, “The National Parks: America's Best Idea is nonetheless a story of people: people from every conceivable background - rich and poor; famous and unknown; soldiers and scientists; natives and newcomers; idealists, artists and entrepreneurs; people who were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved, and in doing so reminded their fellow citizens of the full meaning of democracy. It is a story full of struggle and conflict, high ideals and crass opportunism, stirring adventure and enduring inspiration - set against the most breathtaking backdrops imaginable.”

We’ll delve into Burns’ new series and Pennsylvania’s role in developing and preserving the national park system on Smart Talk Friday night at 8:30. The Commonwealth is home to more than 30 of our national parks, heritage and recreation areas … places like Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Fort Necessity and Independence Hall. We also are blessed with a stunning state park system. Pennsylvania boasts 117 state parks. Dr. Maurice Goddard is considered the godfather of our state park network. He served in the cabinets of six Pennsylvania governors and devised the strategy (and challenge!) of having a state park within 25 miles of every Pennsylvania resident. Today, there are state parks in 62 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. You can be in a state park within about a half-hour’s drive from your home. One of my family’s favorites is Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County where we have hiked the Pole Steeple Trail with its glorious summit overlooking the breadth of the valley. It’s a great workout to get to the top and the perfect setting for a family greeting-card photo.

WITF-TV has produced a series of 12 short-form video pieces entitled, “UnCommon Wealth: PA Parks,” to complement the Burns’ documentary. These vignettes, sponsored by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, explore the unique attributes of our own state park system. Just spending a few minutes online perusing the videos showcasing some of the beauty and recreation the parks have to offer (and almost all of it is absolutely free!) will whet your appetite to hit the road for a PA park adventure. Join us Friday night at 8:30 with our guest John Norbeck, Director of State Parks for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

And John also will tell us how to become involved in the Great PA Outdoor Challenge going on now through September 30. The Pennsylvania Park and Forests Foundation created the Outdoor Challenge event as a way for people to experience nature and raise money to protect and preserve our 2.4 million acres of state parks and forests. As they like to say, it’s a way for all of us to give back and to support a legacy of conservation in the Commonwealth.