taken for granted -- I'm embarrassed to say -- is the York County Park System.
It's there. It seems like it's always been there. And there's no reason to think it won't always be there for the enjoyment of York County residents.
Despite its obvious value to taxpayers, tourists and residents, however, it's always pretty low on the totem pole when it comes to the allocation of county tax dollars -- less than $75,000 in a budget of about $2.2 million a year.
In 2006, it cost each taxpayer in York County about $2.81 a year as his or her share of the cost for the county park system, which is recognized as one of the best in the northeastern region of the United States. If there's a better bargain in York County government, please tell me what it is.
In 2007, that number was $4.39 per person (still a bargain), but it's only that high because funds from several state grants hadn't been received before year's end. Those funds will be forthcoming this year, Tammy Klunk, the assistant parks director, said.
Truth is, the York County Parks Department probably does more with fewer dollars than any department funded by York County taxpayers. It is practically self-sufficient.
Which is amazing when you consider the parks department is responsible for upkeep and maintenance at nine parks covering more than 4,000 acres.
I've enjoyed them all at one time or another over 40 years.
Hey, I was actually alive and kicking
Some of my fondest memories are related to the county parks. Years ago, my rather large extended family looked forward to at least one and sometimes two family picnics a year at one of the county parks. It was a great way to spend a weekend afternoon.
It's been four decades since P. Joseph Raab and a small group of York County visionaries took the bull by the horns in planning the development of a county parks system. It started on rocky terrain in eastern York County, but gradually expanded north, south, east and west, into every nook and cranny they could find.
Two years after I graduated from high school -- that would have been 1968 -- the county acquired land that is now Rocky Ridge County Park. It was the first York County park. About 90 percent of the 750-acre park is a mature oak forest nestled into a bed of rocks.
Also in 1968, 157 acres of woodland, meadows and aquatic habitat, donated by the Bob Hoffman family, became known as the Richard M. Nixon County Park (after the former president).
Apollo Park, acquired from P.H. Gladfelter Co. in 1969, came next to the tune of 149 acres. It sits in the Susquehanna River hills.
Three years later, Spring Valley and its 868 acres -- I've spent countless hours riding horseback on the trails in this park -- came into the fold.
Then came the John C. Rudy County Park in 1973
-- another 143 acres near Emigsville that included a 180-year-old stone house and barn and numerous outbuildings.
In 1977, a 50-year lease agreement between York County and The York Water Co. resulted in the addition of William H. Kain County Park to the park system. It consisted of 1,637 acres, including two lakes, Lake Williams (220 acres) and Lake Redman (290 acres).
The 73-acre P. Joseph Raab County Park was added in 1993; and Highpoint (79 acres) came into being just last year.
And don't forget the 176-acre Heritage Rail Trail County Park -- 21 miles long running north from the Mason-Dixon Line into York City -- which came about in 1992.
I complain all the time about the amount of woodland, pasture, meadows, natural habitat, marshes and the like that is consumed every year by sprawl and development. It drives me crazy.
But in York County, that trend has been at least partially controlled by the conversion of 4,000 acres of land to county parks that include bike paths, picnic areas, historic landmarks, horseback riding trails, walking trails and plenty of natural terrain.
It is cause for celebration, and there's no better time for that than this year -- the 40th anniversary of the York County Park System.
A bit of sunshine and a county park -- it hardly gets any better than that.
Columns by Larry A. Hicks, Dispatch columnist, run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. E-mail: lhicks@yorkdispatch.com.
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