Presque Isle State Park will not receive $1.5 million in funding for sand replenishment
The park typically receives $3 million annually for sand replenishment, with half coming from the federal government and half from the state. This year, the federal government has not provided its share, leaving the state to cover the remaining $1.5 million.
'The commonwealth is going to contribute its half of the 1.5 million into the project this year. Nourishment will continue, but it will be about half scale, though,' said Matt Greene, Presque Isle State Park Operations Manager.
State Representative Ryan Bizzarro criticized the lack of federal funding, stating, 'You can't be pro-business or pro-growth without understanding how sand replenishment benefits the region.'
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Presque Isle State Park spreads 38,000 cubic yards of sand annually to maintain infrastructure integrity. This process mimics natural sand replenishment that would occur without man-made structures.
Due to the funding shortfall, park officials plan to conduct a partial replenishment by relocating sand from tombolos, sand bars that connect to break walls, to areas most affected by erosion.
Matt Greene explained that the sand might need to be moved further than usual this year to address erosion at critical locations like Beaches 5 through Mill Road Beach.
Ryan Bizzarro expressed disappointment over the federal government's decision, highlighting the importance of sand replenishment for regional growth and infrastructure stability.
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Bizzarro also noted the political context, urging federal representatives to advocate for the restoration of funding.
Greene emphasized the need for consistent sand replenishment to prevent operational impacts and maintain the peninsula's infrastructure.
Without federal funding, Presque Isle State Park faces challenges in maintaining its infrastructure, prompting state officials to seek alternative solutions for sand replenishment, considering it's not fully budgeted for now by the Commonwealth.
The situation underscores the importance of federal support for regional projects.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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