To the Editor,

As a quarantined highschooler, I miss the ability to see my friends on a regular basis. Luckily, outdoor spaces have allowed me and countless others some socially distanced interaction. Kids and adults alike have turned to parks to escape the void of isolation, finding them a source of comfort and respite. If anything, heavy park traffic during the crisis has shown that public lands are more important than ever.

Unfortunately, new state legislation seeks to threaten the parks that we hold dear. HB1822, which passed through the Pennsylvania State House in April, would freeze critical conservation funding that maintains the commonwealth’s public lands. This would eliminate support currently allocated to our state parks, family farms, and neighborhood playgrounds. Programs such as the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund would also get slashed, leaving Pennsylvania parks unprotected and underfunded.

So what does this mean for us? With more people than ever frequenting the outdoors, this bill would cause our critical open spaces to be neglected, leaving them vulnerable to disrepair. With summer approaching, the outdoors will become even more of a necessity. If we want access to clean and managed parks, then we must fight against the funding cuts proposed in HB1822. I strongly urge you to contact your state senator and tell them to vote against this disastrous legislation.

Maya Rozin
Swarthmore