Pennsylvania Mixed Bag: Brady’s Lake Road in Game Land 127 closed

Harrisburg — Brady’s Lake Road in State Game Land 127, Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County, was closed for maintenance and resurfacing on April 1 by the Game Commission.

The road was expected to be closed for several weeks and reopen in time for the youth turkey season April 27.

This work is the fourth and final project aimed at improving the road base and drainage on Brady’s Lake Road, according to Ryan Gildea, the commission’s northeast region land management group supervisor.

Punxsutawney Phil, ‘Wife’ Have Twins

Punxsutawney, Pa. — Now we know what Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog who predicts whether an early spring will arrive each Feb. 2, does on the other 364 days.

The Pennsylvania group that handles Phil, and his groundhog wife, Phyllis, says the couple have become parents. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club said in a Facebook post March 27 that Phyllis recently gave birth to two healthy babies. It did not specify their sex or give names for either one.

A club member discovered the babies when he came to feed their parents fruit and vegetables. Phil and Phyllis live in climate-controlled quarters at the Punxsutawney Memorial Library.

MORE COVERAGE FROM PENNSYLVANIA OUTDOOR NEWS:

January antlerless deer season likely coming in certain CWD units in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Game Commission won’t renew lobbying firm contract after facing scrutiny

Commentary: Lobbying a poor use of Pennsylvania Game Commission funds

Delaware Canal State Park Projects

Harrisburg — Bureau of State Parks Director John Hallas recently announced that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is beginning or has underway six major construction projects in Delaware Canal State Park in New Hope and Washington Crossing, Bucks County.

A total investment of more than $9 million in canal infrastructure improvements and repairs is represented in these projects, he said, including bridge replacements and construction, and emergency repairs resulting from a major rain event in July 2023.

These projects will address safety issues and flood damage on the southern end of Delaware Canal State Park and when complete will allow water to be restored in the canal, Hallas said. But in the meantime, the canal in the area is dewatered to allow for the work to be completed.

DCNR Plans 53 New Miles of Trails in Rothrock State Forest

Pine Grove Mills, Pa. — Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, visited Rothrock State Forest March 28 to highlight plans for more than 50 miles of multiuse trails there.

The initial 7.5 miles of construction is currently underway, thanks to partnerships with the Rothrock Trail Alliance, ClearWater Conservancy, local governments, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and other private supporters. Construction will soon begin on the rest of 53 miles of new sustainable biking, hiking and equestrian trails on a loop system across Rothrock State Forest.

Trails allow people to enjoy the outdoors, and they are the backbone of Pennsylvania’s $17 billion outdoor recreation economy, Dunn said. But building and sustaining trails is challenging work that requires significant investment and partnerships.

State Game Land 127 Range Closed

Harrisburg — The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s State Game Land 127 shooting range in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County, closed for repairs and upgrades beginning April 8, and will remain cosed until all maintenance and upgrades are completed.

The required maintenance and upgrades will take approximately two months to complete, with the goal to have the range reopened to the public by mid-June, according to the commission.

The upgrades will improve the quality of the shooting range and the overall experience for shooters, said Northeast Region Land Management Group Supervisor Ryan Gildea. This required maintenance will ensure the safety and quality of our range.

Girl Swept into Chester Creek Drowns

Chester, Pa. — A 6-year-old girl was swept away in rain-swollen Chester Creek March 23 and drowned.

Authorities in Chester County said the child was reported missing after she slipped and fell into the fast-moving stream at 7 p.m.

Several fire companies took part in a three-hour search, and the Coast Guard continued searching through the night.

Chester Mayor Stefan Roots said it was unclear how the girl and her friends came to be at the creek, but they were down at the bank beside the water “at the very wrong time.” He called on governments to assure safe places for children to play, and on people to make sure they know where youngsters are playing.