Governor Corbett Tours Point State Park, Concludes Kayak Tour

Pittsburgh, 2012-07-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — Governor Tom Corbett today toured Point State Park in Pittsburgh, concluding his three-day kayak tour through western Pennsylvania to promote Pennsylvania’s vast natural resources.

Accompanied by First Lady Susan Corbett, the Governor toured the Pittsburgh state park to which he shares a personal connection. A long-time resident of Pittsburgh, Corbett’s father moved to the city from Philadelphia more than 50 years ago and worked on the very project that created Point State Park.

“Point State Park was part of Pittsburgh’s first renaissance; the first public-private partnership to re-create our city,” Corbett said. “That partnership began the process of preserving our natural resources for generations to come. We know now that preservation is critical to the growth of our commonwealth.”

Pennsylvania state parks often have important connections to Pennsylvania history and are more popular than ever as an affordable destination and outdoor recreation option. In addition to the environmental and recreational benefits, state parks across Pennsylvania generate more than $1 billion in economic activity in nearby communities and support almost 13,000 related jobs.

While touring the park, Corbett viewed the state park’s well known fountain as it undergoes extensive renovations and improvements. The renovation, which began last fall, is the fountain’s first major overhaul in almost 40 years and is supported by a combination of state investment, business investment and private donations.

“As we restore Point State Parkand its fountain, plant trees along the greenway and revitalize this focal point for the city, we’re preserving our past as we build anew cityfor generations yet to be born,” Corbett said.

The Governor reminded those in attendance that as Pennsylvania enters into its next industrial revolution, it must protect the natural beauty and purity of its landscapes and rivers.

“We can prosper from our new energy sector while not taking shortcuts that would endanger our environment,” Corbett said. “We need our rivers for transportation, but we also need them for recreation.”

Point State Parka also encompasses Fort Pitt, which dates to 1755. First opened in 1969 in a reconstructed bastion, the Fort Pitt Museumis a two-floor, 12,000-square-foot museum that tells the story of Western Pennsylvania’s pivotal role during the French & Indian War, the American Revolution, and as the birthplace of Pittsburgh.

Corbett visited Point State Park at the conclusion of a three-day tour of Western Pennsylvania to promote Pennsylvania’s vast natural resources. During the tour, the Governor kayaked on the Allegheny and Conemaugh rivers and visited Forest, Venango and Warren counties, Johnstown and Pittsburgh.

For more information about state parks, visit the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources online at www.dcnr.state.pa.us.

To find historic sites across the state, visit the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission online at www.phmc.state.pa.us.

Find additional opportunities to explore Pennsylvania’s many unique tourism assets at www.visitPA.com.

Media contact:  Kelli Roberts, 717-783-1116

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