By RANDY BARTLEY
Staff writer
After nearly a two-year delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the new office at Cook Forest State Park was officially dedicated April 13.
“This park is a special place,” said Ryan Bortz, park superintendent. “The new office and visitors’ center provides new opportunities to educate and improve the visitor experience. I would argue we put this building in a perfect spot.
“From this location, you can easily be oriented to the trails and all of the other resources. The building blends well with the existing natural landscape.”
State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Dunn added, “When you are in a place where the trees are 100 years old, it gives you a little perspective. You realize there is something bigger out there than your stress.”
The 4,000-square building center includes office space for 12 employees, a 700-square foot classroom and meeting space, and public restrooms that are available at all hours throughout the year. There is also exhibit space in the office, which is in the design phase and will be completed in the near future.
“I am pleased to be here today celebrating this new building and the opportunities it will provide visitors at one of our special parks,” Dunn said. “We are happy to have this new home for our staff to continue doing great work at that park. We look forward to seeing the impact of the enhanced visitor experience this new building will provide through improved amenities and educational opportunities.”
State Park Bureau Director John Hallis said the old park office did not have enough square footage for the staff.
“We concerted one of the restrooms into an office for the assistant park superintendent,” Hallis said. “It was squashed.”
In the old location, staff was located in the basement and the basement was flooded in 2014. The park rangers used an even older building and it was occupied by bats.
“But that wouldn’t cut it,” he said. “That led to this beautiful building.”
Clarion County Commissioner Ted Tharan, a member of The Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory board, said he did not realize the park office actually stands in Clarion County.
“In Clarion County we take tourism seriously,” Tharan said. “Tourism generates a lot of revenue for the people of the county. Everyone has memories of Cook Forest.
“Some time in their life, they have climbed the fire tower, canoed the river, walked the trails, or have gone to the Easter Sunrise service.”
Tharan said the employees of the park are the guardians of history and innovators of the future.
“They protect what was given to us in the past and they have to think about the future,” said Tharan. “That is what this building represents.”
Friends of Cook Forest President Carl Harding said the park still has needs.
Other recent improvements to the park include $2 million in roadway funding for Cook Forest and Clear Creek state parks and $140,000 in bridges to support trails. Other plans include expanding parking lots to accommodate growing visitor needs and to install an EV charging station near the new office.
An additional $800,000 is needed to demolish the old park office to build a guest comfort station.
“We have bridges that are rusting, hemlock wooly adelgid and we lost a couple of playgrounds,” said Harding, adding the Friends group is working to replace the play areas.
“We are hoping to have the sensory trail open this summer,” Harding said. “It will be a trail with Braille signage and those with disabilities to come in and enjoy the park.”
Surveying the turn-out for the opening of the office, Harding concluded, “We are blessed to have everyone here who cares about this park.”