Letter: Lock 60, Canal Park and Trails Would Not Be Public Under Proposed Budget

Editor's Note: The following is a letter to the editor submitted by Betsy Daley, executive director of the Schuylkill Canal Association. A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for Dec. 7 at 10 a.m.

To all users of the Schuylkill Canal Park: 

Are you aware of the situation the Montgomery County Parks and Heritage Services department is in? 

According to the county’s proposed 2012 budget released on Dec. 1, the department is slated to be eliminated. The area, a Montgomery County Park, will be directly affected by this potential elimination of the county’s parks department. 

If the Montgomery County budget is passed as proposed the canal park, Lock 60 and the Locktender’s House will be closed to the public. This will include all the trails leading to and from the canal area, the canal waterway incorporating the five-mile water trail loop and in addition, the well-used and appreciated Schuylkill River Trail within Montgomery County.

This cannot happen; the numerous parks available throughout Montgomery County have become a part of our great quality of life here in the area and for those using it daily they have become an essential part of our overall healthy lifestyle. 

If you are a user of the Schuylkill Canal Park, a member of the Schuylkill Canal Association (SCA), a stakeholder in the canal area and/or any Montgomery County park area we are asking you to make your feelings known to the Montgomery County Commissioners. 

Please take the time to review the following information: links to the Montgomery County website listing the proposed budget with the opportunity to comment on the austere budget and a link to the media release stating the commissioners’ case.  

The attached letter (above) will also provide you with additional information and some key points that give you more reasons for stating your support of the Montgomery County Parks and Heritage Services department.

SCA and the Montgomery County Parks and Heritage Services department appreciate your support; hopefully we can all make the difference in keeping our park and the other Montgomery County regional parks open in 2012.

Thank you,
Betsy Daley