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Zangari proposes state park for former Rockview prison land
on 03 Sep 2026
123 Signatures
1,000 for collection target
Petition addressed to: Pennsylvania State Legislators
It has been over a year since the state announced that it would be closing SCI Rockview, putting into question the fate of thousands of acres. At more than 5,700 acres (slightly smaller than Bald Eagle State Park), the Rockview property is the largest in the Pennsylvania state prison system - and what happens to the land matters to all of us.
Turning SCI Rockview into a state park would protect the property from private development while preserving the Spring Creek Watershed, along with creating more opportunities for outdoor recreation in the Central Pennsylvania region.
If elected, I (John Zangari) intend to introduce a bill in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that will turn the SCI Rockview property into a state park. The process of creating a state park involves evaluating the needs of stakeholders, so this will both ensure that everyone gets a say about what they need (such as SCI Benner Township needing to retain their property) and preserve the rest of the land as a state park.
Reason
In my point of view, we all know in our gut what will likely happen: the land will be sold off in sweetheart deals to politically connected developers. This land is too precious to be sold to the highest bidder, though. As Centre County Commissioner Steve Dersham said, “It is home to some of the largest and most pristine farmland and property in our community. I think there needs to be some very, very, very serious conversations…as to the outcome and the use of that property moving forward...I hope it’s not just a land grab and just go out there and figure out how we’re going to give this property away. I think we need to be thoughtful about it because this is the largest piece of property in the county that’s really unaccounted for.”
Thank you so much for your support, John Zangari, Lewistown
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Petition details
Petition started:
09/10/2026
Collection ends:
03/10/2027
Region:
Pennsylvania
Topic:
Environment
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