State unveils plans for Swatara State Park

[jeff of pa]

INDIANTOWN GAP - It's a project that has been in the making for 40 years - and one that many residents thought would never be completed.

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks unveiled construction plans for Swatara State Park during a meeting Monday night at Fort Indiantown Gap's Community Club Vista Room.

The 9-mile-long project will cross into four townships (Bethel, Union and Swatara in Lebanon County and Pine Grove in Schuylkill County) and will not exceed $4,137,000, said park manager Angel Croll.

http://www.ldnews.com/ci_14742860

[P.B. and Dylan]

Hope this opens up access to more fossils!!!

[jeff of pa]

Hope this opens up access to more fossils!!!

yea would be cool

there was talk of them Putting Gates up
a couple years ago, I Hope
that never happens Now that they are
planning on Improvements

[jeff of pa]

FYI

In the Park today





If you Plan on hunting it yet, Do it now,
Once the Trails are done the Entire 8 Miles will be hard to Access

[jeff of pa]

[doverturtle]

Jeff,
I see on the map there is a location labeled as "fossil pit". Are there fossils that can be currently seen, or does one have to search for them? I have a 6 year old daughter that would probably love to see some fossils.

[jeff of pa]

you would have to actually pick up the rocks , break them open
& look for the fossils

See Suedberg Fossil site at this link

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/parkguides/pg16.pdf

[doverturtle]

Thanks, Jeff. I'll probably have to wait since this would most likely challenge my daughter's patience at this time.

[P.B. and Dylan]

Doverturtle,
In Deer Lake there are places on route 61 where fossils are laying right on top of the ground, and they are everywhere.
They are mostly mollusks from the Devonian period.
If your interested contact me and I will give you directions.
Paul

[jeff of pa]

Doverturtle,
In Deer Lake there are places on route 61 where fossils are laying right on top of the ground, and they are everywhere.
They are mostly mollusks from the Devonian period.
If your interested contact me and I will give you directions.
Paul

FYI this one has recenly Been Purchased be
the state to widen Rt. 61



Not sure when they plan to begin

According to PennDOT, the Route 61 project will include safety improvements, road widening and construction of a new southbound lane on a 4.58-mile stretch between Brick Hill Road and Route 895 through Deer Lake and West Brunswick Township. The project has been in the planning stages for several years.

While PennDOT is not taking any mineral rights as part of any of the condemnations, it is taking the right of support for the areas it is condemning, according to the declaration.

"No access from the surface of such areas for removal purposes will be allowed without permission from the Commonwealth," the declaration reads in part.
But not sure if that means anything to do with Fossils at this point
since no construction has been done yet

[P.B. and Dylan]

That's the place Jeff. That really stinks. It will not stop me from going there (I am a taxpayer after all).
I suggest that anyone who likes to hunt fossils should go there soon. This place is loaded.

Paul