Construction underway at 2 Centre County recreation spots could alter spring, summer plans
Construction is underway at two Centre County recreational spots — Whipple Dam State Park and Rothrock State Forest — and the work could disrupt some spring and summer plans.
Whipple Dam State Park will remain closed until further notice as state park officials work on the dam dredging project, which began last month. Contractors worked to move in heavy equipment to clear trees from pre-existing sediment basins construction in the park in the mid-1980s. Crews also removed approximately 42,000 cubic yards of accumulated sediment from the lake bed, which has been drained since the fall, according to the state Department of Conservation & Natural Resources website.
While the lake is drawn down, work will be done to install a wheelchair-accessible ramp into the swimming area and construct a new wheelchair-accessible fishing pier. Roadways will be paved and dam structure improvements will be made.
All three of the park’s pavilions and parking areas on both sides of the lake will be closed for the safety of park visitors and to allow room for construction, which is expected to run through July. The lake, including the drawn-down bed area, will be closed to all activities for the duration of the project.
Parking along Laurel Run Road will remain open, so visitors can still access Rothrock State Forest, which will see some renovations of its own in the coming months.
Portions of Bear Meadows Road will be closed through the fall as bridge replacement work is underway, according to an advisory posted by the state DCNR.
Beginning Monday, the portion of Bear Meadows Road at Sinking Creek will be closed until April 16.
After this section is complete, the section between Galbraith Gap parking lot to Laurel Run Road will be closed until Sept. 30.
No alternative routes will be available, but visitors to the forest can use the parking lot and access Black Gum Trail by foot or bike to bypass the closed portions of the roadway.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
