Ryerson survey reopens
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Re-Vision Ryerson Task Force are working to determine what features are possible at the park to restore opportunities for local residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors.
The original survey that closed Oct. 30 asked the public for input. Survey responses included a variety of ideas for the future of the park.
The task force and DCNR are reopening the survey to allow additional time for the public to respond. Anyone who has an interest in Ryerson Station State Park is encouraged to complete the survey.
“This time of the year we get more people coming into the park than normal with hunting season,” park Manager Alan Johnson said. “And we see additional people who are not from the area and we want to give them a chance.”
End date for the survey is Dec. 18.
Duke Lake at Ryerson Station State Park was drawn down in July 2005 for safety reasons after inspections of the dam revealed seepage and foundation movement.
In April 2013, DCNR and Consol Energy, Inc. settled a lawsuit related to the impact of longwall mining on the dam. The cost for dam reconstruction was about $25 million.
Replacement of a dam that created the lake is not possible because of continued ground movement and an unstable foundation, resulting in the department withdrawing its permit application to rebuild the structure.
Since the settlement payment was not restricted to rebuilding the dam, DCNR has the opportunity to use the funds for other things in the park.
“I hope that the public gets a chance to give us their input and see their own ideas come to fruition,” Johnson said.
Find the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Re-VisionRyerson.
For more information about the park, visit the DCNR website at www.dcnr.state.pa.us.