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From 40th Anniversary Committee: What’s Next?

     As we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of York County Parks, it’s a time to look back on the rich history of the parks; more importantly, it allows us to look ahead and ask, “What’s Next?”

     What’s next for the parks and you? Have you visited the parks yet? Or do you use just one of the parks? Why not try the parks for a fun activity for your family? Fishing or boating at William H. Kain County Park, ride horses at Spring Valley Park, picnic / hike at John Rudy County Park or ride bikes on the Heritage Rail Trail County Park are all family friendly activities. Look on the website or Fox Tracks Newsletter for this symbol 40th to donate 40th Anniversary activities throughout the year at each o fifth parks.

     Join us in celebrating our anniversary on Friday, April 25th at 6 P.M. A banquet, an auction and a special program will be held at Wisehaven Banquet and Expo Center. Jack Hubley, and some of his animal friends will provide entertainment. Don Gogniat, Vice Chairman of Rail Trail Authority will Emcee.

Reservations are required. Tickets are $25 / person. Call (717) 840-7440 for tickets or information.

Events Slated to Honor York County Park System’s 40th Year
By Tom Gelli, 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee Volunteer
To paraphrase from the greeting-card rack, “Lordy, lordy, look what’s forty!”

     Yes, it’s been 40 years since P. Joseph Raab and his fellow York County visionaries took their first steps toward the establishment of what has become one of the foremost and renown county park systems in America’s northeastern region. What started modestly as a solitary tract of rocky terrain in east York has grown into a premier system of eight parks spanning more than 4,000 acres featuring natural terrain, walking trails, bike paths, picnic areas, and historic landmarks.

     To celebrate this 40th anniversary, the York County Department of Parks and Recreation is holding a series of programs and activities throughout this calendar year.

     The marquee event will be a formal dinner at the Wisehaven Banquet and Expo Center on April 25. Don Gogniat, vice-chairman of the York County Rail Trail Authority, will serve as master of ceremonies for the event, which will feature a live auction, entertainment, and the area’s foremost animal authority, Jack Hubley, host of television’s Call of the Outdoors and A Wild Moment.

     Members of the public may purchase tickets for the dinner by contacting York County Parks at (717) 840-7440.

     Support for the dinner and the companion events has come largely from county residents and regional businesses. Many have given financial and material assistance to the endeavor, spearheaded by a committee of volunteers.

     “This is going to be an inclusive celebration held by and for the residents and neighbors of York County,” says Tom Brant, Executive Director of York County Parks. “We truly are privileged to have such a vibrant and accessible network of parks and recreational facilities in our region. This anniversary celebration is a way to formally recognize that.”

     Each of the county’s eight parks has its own character and notability. For example, the land that is now Nixon Park, named after the nation’s 37th President, was donated to the county by Bob Hoffman, founder of York Barbell and close friend of Richard Nixon. The former President visited the park. The park includes the Nixon Nature Center, which opened in 1980 and features 170 wildlife mounts donated by a local plastering contractor, William Koller. The Heritage Rail Trail County Park has become one of the most used county parks. Hanover Junction Train Station, where Abraham Lincoln stopped while enroute to deliver the Gettysburg Address in 1863, and New Freedom Train Station, where Lincoln’s funeral train passed through two years later, are two historic landmarks of interest along the Heritage Rail Trail.

     No doubt about it, Joseph Raab and his fellow trailblazers, who served on the County’s first Parks Board 40 years ago, would be pleased to see the expanded footprint and popularity of the York County Parks System, which reached the milestone of more than one million visitors in 2006. This growing popularity is a fitting testament to the fact that while the York County Parks System may be 40 years old, it is in no way “over the hill.”
With a past like that, what could be next?

     As part of the 40th anniversary year, the York County Parks is planning some special programming. These include: