A former maintenance area in the Raccoon Creek State Park, Beaver County, was restored to a grassy meadow during an equipment cleanup December 17 to 23, 2002.
C. J. Contracting of Monroeville worked under the supervision of park staff and members of PA CleanWays of Beaver County to restore the site near the Hanover Youth Soccer Field. It had been used in years past as an area for stockpiling construction materials, barrels, telephone poles, an old road grader and other items. Everything was removed and the area was reclaimed, graded, seeded, and mulched. More than four tons of scrap metal was sorted for recycling, and 16.5 tons of debris was properly disposed.
"It is a tremendous endeavor that PA CleanWays has assumed throughout Pennsylvania," commented Al Wasilewski, assistant park manager. "We are very fortunate that we have had four sites cleaned up through these efforts as well as the efforts of the park staff and volunteers. What were once eyesores are now a trailhead for equestrian use and a field of native grasses and most recently an area that will be utilized by the local soccer teams."
DCNR encourages Beaver County residents with disposal and recycling questions to contact C. J. Raabe, director of the Department of Waste Management at 724-843-9450 or by e-mail.
Raccoon Creek State Park
has continued to develop from its beginning as a Recreational Demonstration Area operated by the National Park Service in the 1930s to one of the largest and most beautiful state parks in Pennsylvania. Facilities at the park are a mix from the early Civilian Conservation Corps camp to modern facilities. In addition to recreational areas, there are large tracts of undeveloped land. The 7,323-acre park features the beautiful 101-acre Raccoon Creek Lake.
It is located in southern Beaver County with access from the west on U.S. Routes 22 or 30, or from the north and south on PA Route 18, which passes directly through the park.
Learn about other illegal dump sites in state forests and parks.
This page last updated January 16, 2003.
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