A threat to Pa.'s open-space fund

By Andy Loza

Despite citizens' strong support for government spending for conservation and recreation, the state Senate has slashed funding for it.

Motivated by a need to find $40 million a year for another state program, the Senate passed Senate Bill 913, which would cut the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund by nearly 50 percent. The House must still take up the issue. In spite of a budget surplus, the governor seems inclined to support the cut. A growing number of House members oppose it.

With today's intense development pressure, if land is not protected as parks and open space soon, it will be developed. Senate members failed to consider that now is the most critical time to invest in conservation. A decade from now will be too late.

Many understand this. Citizens demonstrate again and again at the polls that they are willing to pay to permanently protect special places in their communities. They are willing to pay for things that last. They want government to responsibly spend money to conserve the region's dwindling green spaces. They want parks and playgrounds to be safe, enjoyable retreats for people of all ages.

In its 14 years, the Keystone Fund has brought permanent protection to 107,000 acres of community green space and wildlife habitat. It has supported thousands of community park-development projects, including athletic fields, community centers, playgrounds and pools. It has helped construct hundreds of miles of recreational trails and improved public access to our state parks and forests. Keystone has also supported library and museum capital improvement projects.

Many dozens of Southeastern Pennsylvania communities are currently seeking Keystone dollars to make their conservation and park plans a reality. A Keystone cut would threaten park expansion in Tinicum Township, nature preserve acquisition in Kennett Township, and playground development in Richlandtown. It would threaten park infrastructure in Cheltenham and trail construction in Philadelphia. Hundreds of projects would be hurt statewide.

The Keystone Fund helps communities help themselves. It is also a great deal for state government. Each dollar of Keystone Fund investment typically leverages a dollar or more in direct local investments in our parks, special community open spaces and libraries. The indirect benefits brought by improving the livability of our communities and providing recreational and outdoor opportunities to our children are immeasurable.

Those who would take money from the Keystone Fund argue that diversions will not harm conservation and recreation because the fund has grown and its revenue source - 15 percent of the Realty Transfer Tax - continues to grow. They have forgotten that the fund was intended to grow. The General Assembly of 1993 saw that conservation and recreation needs were growing explosively. Hence, the Senate voted 48-0, and the House, 196-3, to create a permanent fund that would grow as the real-estate market grew. With land conservation and recreation costs now having grown many-fold, the wisdom of those legislators 14 years ago is evident.

Ironically, the cut has been proposed when the housing market is in decline with the realty transfer taxes that support Keystone projects shrinking by $14 million compared to fiscal 2005-2006. The irony goes deeper: In a 2005 public referendum, Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly supported a new $625 million Growing Greener bond to invest in Pennsylvania's environmental well-being. Surely voters didn't intend that their authorization of borrowing would be quickly followed by a massive cut to Pennsylvania's premier conservation and recreation funding program.

Soon our legislators and governor may very well have decided the fate of state conservation and recreation funding for the coming years. I hope that they have recognized the needs of the region and upheld the tremendous recreation and conservation legacy that their predecessors - Democrats and Republicans alike - established with the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund.