CLEARFIELD – The future of the Camp Wopsononock Natural Area was discussed at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Clearfield County Commissioners.
Scott Kephart, chairman of the Houtzdale Woodward Recreational Authority expressed the authority’s interest in acquiring ownership and responsibility of the Camp Wopsononock Natural Area.
According to him, the authority’s mission is to promote and provide recreational opportunities within the community. He said the acquisition of the natural area would benefit the authority tremendously and its board has already generated ideas for its possible use.
Kephart said that the authority would make Camp Wopsononock available for primitive camping, hiking on its nature trails, etc. He said there would be the possibility of rebuilding the camps and the camp store.
“We would continue the existing relationship with the boy scouts from the local areas and also create other opportunities for the community and other organizations,” he said.
Commissioner Mark B. McCracken explained that there are restrictions within the existing contract for Camp Wopsononock. He said it is to be used for recreation. Kephart said if the authority would take over ownership, he didn’t foresee this as a problem.
Solicitor Kim Kesner explained that the county didn’t actually own the natural area. He said it is currently under the ownership and responsibility of the Clearfield County Recreation & Tourism Authority (CCRTA). He said any transfer of ownership of the natural area would be up to the CCRTA board.
McCracken said the CCRTA hasn’t taken any official action regarding the Camp Wopsononock Natural Area. He said the CCRTA’s next meeting will be at 8:30 a.m. May 13 at the CCRTA office.
During the public comment, J. Barry Abbott Sr. of DuBois asked the commissioners to reconsider turning over the Camp Wopsononock Natural Area to the state Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.
Abbott said he wanted to see the natural area remain open. He said it seemed to him that when DCNR takes over property, “gates go up.” He said he was open to helping the county in any way to keep ownership of the natural area.