Shapiro Administration Moves Quickly After Two Major Flooding Events, Reopens Point State Park in Pittsburgh Ahead of Schedule

​The Shapiro Administration continues to deliver for Pennsylvanians by reopening Point State Park quickly and efficiently after flooding

Pittsburgh, PA -- Today, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that facilities at Point State Park in Pittsburgh impacted by two recent major flooding events have reopened, and the park will ready for a busy spring and summer of events.

Point State Park rivers reached flood levels of 28.37 feet on April 2, which is the highest level the park has experienced in 20 years, according to the National Weather Service.

The flooding reached the Monongahela Prominade and several feet onto the Great Lawn on the riverside of the park.

Point was hit with a second round of flooding when water levels reached 25.9 feet April 13.

Point State Park Manager Jake Weiland said the unprecedented cleanup effort to reopen the park in record time would not have been possible without the incredible dedication of DCNR employees from Keystone, Cook Forest, Moraine, Racoon Creek, and Ryerson Station state parks and Clear Creek, Forbes, and Gallitzin state forests, and Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps Pittsburgh crew members.

"We tackled the cleanup of Point State Park with a 'get stuff done' attitude, because the Shapiro Administration understands how state parks and forests support the local business and economy in and around them and is working to ensure the outdoor recreation industry continues to be an important part of Pennsylvania's economy," Dunn said. "Because it is such an iconic representation of the city, Pittsburghers look forward to the return of the Point State Park fountain as one of the signs of spring, and we'll be prepared when it comes time to flip the switch as is usually done at the beginning of May."

To improve public lands, Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed 2024-25 budget builds on the success of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps with a $5 million investment in an effort to diversify and strengthen conservation career and workforce pathways for young people.

This year, a total of about 200 young people will participate in the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps​, a statewide ​workforce initiative to introduce people ages 15-25 to natural resource conservation and related jobs.

It also teaches participants about public service and provides job skills to make them better employees.

Since taking office, Governor Shapiro secured $112 million in budget funding for an investment in state parks and forests infrastructure, the largest in decades, and launched Pennsylvania's Office of Outdoor Recreation.

MEDIA CONTACT: Wesley Robinson, DCNR, 717-877-6315

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