What should happen with Rockview’s land? Here’s what Centre County leaders said
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The DOC will maintain and secure the 5,700-acre Rockview property until it is sold.
- Local leaders call for transparency and robust public input on land use decisions.
- Multiple officials urge conservation of farmland, forests and protection of waterways.
What happens with the thousands of acres at the shuttered Rockview state prison property remains an open question, but whatever answer emerges will be a defining moment for the broader Bellefonte and State College areas.
The prison and its roughly 5,700 acres is still controlled by the state Department of Corrections, which an agency spokesperson said Tuesday will continue to maintain and secure the property until it is sold.
A limited number of DOC staff remain to help with the removal and transfer of equipment to other facilities. The agency said staff are also working to officially designate which areas of the property will be kept or marked as surplus.
The unneeded land would then be managed by the state Department of General Services. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has not divulged any plans for the property, except that some of the land will remain with the DOC for next-door Benner Township state prison.
The Centre Daily Times reached out to leaders across the political spectrum and from the municipal to federal level, asking their opinions about what should happen with the land. All General Assembly members representing Centre County, along with those running for the seats, were contacted.
A two-question survey asked what they think should be done with the land and what they think should not be done with the land. Some respondents answered only one question, and some answers have been edited for clarity.
Below are the responses of the 14 people who responded to the survey.
State Sen. Cris Dush, R-Brookville
What should happen to the property: If the Commonwealth deems this excess property, then we have to work with local governments and community leaders that include business interests such as farms, recreational, industrial as well as whether it is in the best interests of the community to have affordable housing.
This will not be a quick “here’s what we’re doing” announcement such as was done with the closure of Rockview. We will be seeking community input.
What should not happen: One thing I can say will definitely be my priority is making whole those who are having their land seized through eminent domain in Centre County. The Right to Acquire Property is the first of our rights and when the Commonwealth seizes it the Commonwealth is stripping the owners of that right. It is incumbent on the Commonwealth to make those property owners whole.
State Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township
What should happen to the property: I believe the people should have input on its future. A transparent hearing process and surveys should be held to determine what our citizens would like to see.
What should not happen: It should not be divided and sold in any backroom deal.
U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Howard
What should happen to the property: I strongly advocated against closing Rockview. The Centre County Commissioners estimated this would lead to an annual economic loss of $118 million across Centre, Clinton, and Clearfield counties, resulting in the loss of close to 900 local jobs. The nearly 6,000-acre site the prison occupied should be used to bring in new opportunities and revitalize the local economy.
What should not happen: The property is owned by the Commonwealth, and I anticipate there will be a robust public discussion on the next steps. I look forward to working with the community to see what options work best for the Centre Region.
Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins
What should happen to the property: I think we should listen closely to our municipal officials, businesses, nonprofits, and our residents. There will be many different perspectives on what should be done with the land.
The forest on the side of Mount Nittany should remain in the Department of Corrections Forestry Program in my opinion. Some of the land should remain agricultural. I’m sure the State Correctional Institution - Benner Township needs a security buffer. Perhaps that could also be agricultural land.
I’ve heard a variety of uses for the decommissioned State Correctional Institution – Rockview main building. Based on the suggestions that I have heard, placing that building back into productive use could potentially run into the tens of millions of dollars. If possible, the other outbuildings should remain in productive use in the state correctional system.
Some of the remaining land would be considered prime land for a broad variety of uses. Possibly parks or other active outdoor opportunities, perhaps a business park. And we’ve heard a lot about housing that people can afford, especially families who would live in the residential units year round.
As there are very few prime parcels of land this size that would be coming on the market, in my opinion, I would prioritize housing that people can afford, especially for seniors and families who would live in the residential units year round. Since so much land is available, other priorities could be business focused to support Sensor Valley and other research initiatives. There should also be room for parks.
What should not happen: I do not think the land should be sold in private transactions to politically connected individuals. Based on the sheer size of this opportunity, I believe there should be substantial public comment before any major decisions are made.
Centre County Commissioner Amber Concepcion
What should happen to the property: First, I believe the process to determine the disposition of the land at Rockview must provide for community input and transparency. I am hopeful that officials in Harrisburg will be responsive to community interests in preserving agricultural land, forests, and considering the local environmental impacts of development.
Our region does need more workforce/affordable housing, so I would sincerely hope that future development along that corridor includes affordable housing.
Spring Township Manager Mike Danneker
What should happen to the property: Mixed-use redevelopment such as applied research and community space. Using a blended approach, light industrial or innovation hub such as clean energy or robotic development. Small business incubators, especially with the local talent in and around the area.
Ag-tech partnering with Penn State. Environmental restoration, recreation and reforesting the land. Walking and biking trails, a wildlife corridor. The state should work with stakeholders and community members to determine the percentage of land usage as it relates to development.
What should not happen: This should not just be a land grab by big developers. It should be thought out and planned for now and in the future, and its impact on environmental issues along with the watershed impact. It should not be giant warehouses, logistic complexes or more student housing because it doesn’t address or solve the real housing imbalance.
College Township council member Gretchen Brandt
What should happen to the property: Whatever happens to the land in the future, we must prioritize the health of our water. Additionally, we need to be responsible stewards of this land no matter what approach is taken pertaining to development. It is of the utmost importance to the health of the community and our local watershed.
College Township council member L. Eric Bernier
What should happen to the property: About 20 years ago, the state planned to divest themselves of about 1,000 acres of Rockview State Penitentiary property. The property included the area around Spring Creek known as the Spring Creek Canyon.
After the state legislature passed a bill to transfer the entire parcel over to Penn State (who was primarily interested in the farmlands), the community pushed back, noting that Penn State may not be positioned best to protect the most environmentally sensitive portions of the property.
The community was then allowed to discuss the matter and propose what they felt was a more appropriate distribution of property and responsibilities. I was part of that debate/discussion as the College Township appointee to the Technical Committee that participated in preparing the final proposal.
The bill was then later amended to include property and responsibility spread among other entities including Benner Township, Clearwater Conservancy, the Game Commission, and the Fish and Boat Commission. The net result included conservation easements that allowed Penn State to receive the farmland portions but protected the unique and sensitive Spring Creek Canyon while allowing and accommodating public access.
This fascinating piece of local history regarding the preservation of Spring Creek Canyon through collaborative planning, I believe, can serve as a model for the state and community in balancing land development with essential environmental protection of any of the property the state ultimately decides to divest itself of.
Ray Bilger, candidate for PA-15
What should happen to the property: While I cannot provide a succinct answer to the question without first touring the facilities and seeing the engineering assessment of them, I would encourage a use which would prioritize environmentally responsible development and usage of the land, at least a part of which should be preserved as natural habitat.
If we are to develop the land along the Benner Pike corridor, we must ensure proper long-term planning to make the area sustainable and to attract families and businesses which remain the area. I would love to see a large portion of the land remain agricultural with an emphasis on providing local products to this region.
What should not happen: The land should not be sold to Penn State. We need to have a robust tax base to help lower our property taxes, which are forcing fixed income residents out of their homes.
We should also avoid construction of hundreds of homes on small parcels of land. Any investment in this area needs to originate and remain in the area. We have seen the result of outside interests purchasing real estate. This land must be in the hands of responsible trustees.
We have a unique opportunity to shape this large section of the region and we must do so responsibly.
John Zangari, candidate for PA House District 171
What should happen to the property: I believe we should carefully evaluate the land at SCI Rockview, taking into account its environmental, agricultural, and community impacts, and preserve most of it for conservation — farming, forests, and trails.
We should protect the Spring Creek recharge zone and expand hiking access to the Mount Nittany area trail system, because Pennsylvania is built on our beautiful forests and natural greenery. At the same time, we should also look at transferring a portion of the land to the county under the condition that it is used for affordable housing initiatives that benefit working‑class families and help address our housing shortage.
What should not happen: I believe the land at SCI Rockview should not be turned over to data centers, speculative development, or expensive housing projects that only benefit wealthy buyers. There should be no massive land grabs or sweetheart deals for insiders, and we must reject any proposal that treats this property as a private windfall rather than a public asset.
Frankly, this land belongs to all of us — it was acquired and maintained with taxpayer dollars over more than a century. Any decisions about its future must be made transparently, through organized community sessions and robust public input, so that the people of Centre County have a real voice in preserving it for conservation, farming, forests, trails and affordable housing.
Happy Valley Adventure Bureau President and CEO Fritz Smith
What should happen to the property: I think it should have a combination of housing, preservation of a significant part of the land, possibly allowance for re-location of people and businesses displaced by the U.S. Route 322 expansion road and that consideration and thought should be given to a major tourism attraction and/or film infrastructure production.
What should not happen: I don’t know that I’d want to preclude a particular use before there is broad discussion. I just think there needs to be balance, and a wide variety of stakeholder’s input brought into the process.
ClearWater Conservancy Executive Director Elizabeth Crisfield
What should happen to the property: Conservation opportunities for forest habitat, wildlife connectivity and groundwater recharge meet statewide priorities for climate adaptation and local priorities for the vitality of Spring Creek.
Mount Nittany Conservancy Vice President Chris Buchignani
What should happen to the property: The priorities outlined in the letter to Governor Shapiro that I co-signed on behalf of the Mount Nittany Conservancy are the right ones. A conservation-conscious approach to Rockview’s future will preserve and amplify some of Happy Valley’s most precious assets: fertile soil, clean water, destination fishing and hiking, and the stirring beauty and spiritual symbolism of Old Mount Nittany in its natural state.
We face a “once-in-many-lifetimes” opportunity to do something special for our community now and for future generations; failure to capitalize on it is not an option.
What should not happen: Any disruption in the historic conservation of the land on Mount Nittany would be tragic and would provoke intense, united opposition. For more than a century, local residents and the wider Penn State community have repeatedly reinforced their commitment to preserving Mount Nittany in its natural state.
The Mountain is a treasured aesthetic, ecological, recreational, and cultural asset that symbolizes the University and our entire region. The long-standing community investment in its conservation must be respected in determining the Rockview property’s future.
Centre County Farmland Trust President Dan Guss
What should happen to the property: We would like to see the existing good quality agricultural land stay in use for agricultural production. This good quality land is an important resource that should not be lost or degraded. Likewise, the extensive and relatively pristine forest lands on Nittany Mountain should be kept as a forest preserve.
What should not happen: We would not want to see this land sliced up for willy-nilly unplanned sprawl, with loss of good farm and forest lands and important water resources.