YORK, Pa. — Pennsylvania is celebrating Healthy Lands Week, an initiative aimed at promoting park appreciation, engagement, and conservation across the state. The annual event highlights the significance of parks in Pennsylvania and encourages individuals to connect with nature while fostering a sense of appreciation and participation.
Amber Witthaur is a York resident and can often be found with her dog, Piper, at the John Rudy County Park in York County. She explained how other parkgoers have donated their time and money to keep the park clean.
“They donate poop bags, they come and empty it to the dumpster because that’s not provided by the parks,” Witthaur said.
The week includes lessons like leaving no trace and stopping the spread of invasive species, like the spotted lantern fly, which threaten the health of Pennsylvania’s ecosystem.
And with 125 state parks and more than 6,000 local parks, State Park Manager Nathaniel Brown says there’s something unique to appreciate about each of them.
“A lot of the draw here is the view, the landscape, the sunsets, the view of the river and the small towns and it is just a scenic spot,” Brown explained about Samuel S. Lewis State Park in York County.
Brown, who manages the Susquehanna Riverlands State Park, expressed the allure of the park's scenic beauty, which has garnered national recognition as one of the top places for romantic outings in the country. According to a survey by Datingnews.com, the Susquehanna River Valley was voted one of the top 150 places to make out across the nation.
With a lighthearted laugh, Beth Craig, a visitor of John Rudy County Park, shared how being in nature encourages people to share their love of state parks and, “Take in the beauty of not only the nature but also the person you’re with.”
This includes Brown, who shared how the parks system became a meaningful piece of his family.
“I had been dating my now wife for a little over I think four years at that point,” Brown said.
At the time, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was working on creating a new park and hiking trail with a spot overlooking the Susquehanna River.
“We hiked out to the overlook and I got to show her what we were working on and then proposed there while we were out at the overlook,” Brown explained.
For Steve Cruse, a York County resident and avid parkgoer, enjoying local parks means connecting with his wife.
“We enjoy walking the parks. It's a nice time to be together, get a little exercise, see some nice scenery and bond,” Cruse said.
And with thousands of parks to explore he added, “We’re very lucky in this area to have such a nice park system.”
As the fall season sets in, Travis Lighty highlighted the romantic ambiance of the parks, noting how the changing foliage and cooler weather creates the perfect setting for couples to embrace the romance of nature.
“People start wearing their jeans and sweatshirts, [they] wanna cozy around the fire the campfire and stuff. So, being in parks when you’re walking around the trails, its a good chance to hold hands and walk through the trails. The romance is always there.”
But it isn’t just the romance that encourages visitation. Parkgoers say it’s about branching out and providing a space for individuals to forge lasting friendships and connections.
“I’ve made so many amazing friends, dog friends, human friends, we’ve created a really great community here,” Witthaur said.
Healthy Lands Week helps honor those special connections, encouraging preservation and participation in the parks that make those moments possible.
For those looking to get involved and show their support for local parks, more information about Healthy Lands Week and ongoing initiatives can be found on the Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week website.
