Dr. George Durrwachter, with his wife Shirley by his side, cuts the ribbon to celebrate the official opening of the new Phelps Mill Canoe Access to Pine Creek on Friday just off Route 220 between Avis and Jersey Shore, not far from the Pine Creek Rail Trail. The Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservatory (NPC) purchased the land from the previous landowners and collaborated with the Clinton County Visitors Bureau and the Western Pennsylvania Canoe Access Fund to make the project a reality. The project removed knotweed and turned what was a slippery and steep slope into a safe gravel access ramp with parking for visitors to enjoy. The site is now owned by DCNR and managed as part of the Tiadaghton State Forest. NPC used a donation from the Durrwachters to buy the property and then sold it to DCNR, according to Renee Carey, executive director of NPC. Among those joining the Durrwachters for the ceremony were county Commissioners Jeff Snyder, Miles Kessinger and Angela Harding; DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn (fourth from right); Tom Casilio, Tiadaghton district forester; NPC members and other dignitaries. According to Adams Dunn, the opening of the access ramp follows a year of dramatic growth in outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania amid COVID-19. She said state parks experienced an increase of 26 percent in use/visits, despite event cancellations, whereas kayak sales increased by 85 percent and bike sales increased by 120 percent. Look for a full story on the ceremony and project in an upcoming edition of The Express.