Eich on Open Space

Centre County’s Quality of Life depends in large part on the open spaces that separate one community from the next, one development from the next.  Protecting these open spaces is an important responsibility for Centre County Government.

That’s why County Government invests in an ag land preservation program – an investment which should be increased.  That’s why the county assisted in the purchase of the Curtin Estate property to create State Gamelands 323.  That’s why it supported the creation of the Snow Shoe Rail Trail, and is currently supporting the creation of the Bellefonte Central Rail Trail and the Beech Creek Greenway.

The biggest challenge currently facing the county is how to respond to the dismemberment of Rockview holdings.  It is unfortunate that this buffer between Bellefonte and State College is being fragmented.  Perhaps the construction of I-99 interchanges at each edge of Rockview property made it inevitable.

Transferring ownership of the Benner Fish Hatchery should have the least impact.

Transferring 1,200 acres to Penn State can have significant research benefits.  But the University has developed a significant amount of land once used for agricultural purposes.  That cannot be allowed to happen if the University obtains Rockview property.  It would seem appropriate for the state to retain the development rights on this property, which is proposed to be transferred at less than fair market value.

Transfer of the Spring Creek Canyon to Benner Township for recreational use is the trickiest part of this transaction.  It will be difficult to protect the fragile environmental features of the canyon while opening it to large numbers of outdoor enthusiasts for hiking, boating, and fishing.