Superintendent Stephen Clark presents The State of the Western Pennsylvania National Parks

Date: March 16, 2017
Contact: Stephen M. Clark, 814-893- 6531

Stephen M. Clark, Superintendent of the Western Pennsylvania National Park Service sites, invites the public to attend the first annual State of the Parks program. The program will be held on March 29, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Somerset High School Auditorium. The five National Park Service sites that will be featured during the program are: Flight 93 National Memorial, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site.

Clark plans to provide an update on various projects including the Flight 93 National Memorial Tower of Voices project and visitation trends at the five parks. Visitation to the five Western Pennsylvania Park sites was over 1.2 million in 2016; a 19% increase over 2015 visitation. Although the calendar year 2016 economic impact information is not yet available, in 2015 the five Western Pennsylvania Parks created 81 million dollars in economic benefits to the region. National Park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy, returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Parks, and it’s a big factor in the regional economy.

During this two hour program, Superintendent Clark will also share information on upcoming restoration and construction projects in the five parks, special events, new exhibits and educational programs planned for 2017.

Superintendent Clark will take questions from the audience at the end of his presentation.

•  Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2017
• Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Somerset High School, 645 S. Columbia Ave # 120, Somerset, PA
• Invited: General public, area residents and the media
• Media contact: Stephen Clark, Superintendent, Western Parks of  Pennsylvania
• Contact information: e-mail Stephen M. Clark, 814-893- 6531