Local Leaders Call for Careful Planning of Rockview Land

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – March 24, 2026 – Centre County agricultural, conservation, and community leaders are calling on Governor Josh Shapiro and state agencies to ensure a transparent, community-driven planning process for the future of the SCI Rockview lands—one of the most defining and visible landscapes in central Pennsylvania.

Following the announced closure of SCI Rockview, local leaders acknowledge the difficulty of the Commonwealth’s decision and the significant workforce and economic impacts felt across the region. At the same time, they are urging the Commonwealth to recognize the property’s extraordinary ecological, agricultural, and cultural significance, and to prioritize conservation, public access, and sustainable land use in future plans.

“The Rockview property holds critical environmental and agricultural value, and it is important that the community has a meaningful role in shaping its future. Our collective group of agricultural and conservation stakeholders is ready to be part of that decision-making process. We know many others across the region, not just within the conservation community, are equally enthusiastic about contributing their perspectives and vision.” said Elizabeth Crisfield, Executive Director of ClearWater Conservancy.

Spanning approximately 5,800 acres, the Rockview property stretches between Bellefonte and State College and includes prime agricultural soils, critical groundwater recharge areas for Spring Creek, and the forested slopes of Mount Nittany—an iconic regional landmark. The property helps define the landscape of Happy Valley and provides environmental functions that are essential to the region. 

A Vision Rooted in Community Values

Stakeholders outlined shared values for the Rockview lands that balance economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and agricultural production. Key priorities include:

• Public Good: Expanding access and outdoor recreation by the creation of a public trail connecting Mount Nittany to Spring Creek Canyon, along with expanded access to existing trail systems to strengthen outdoor recreation and tourism. 
• Sustained Agricultural Production: Continued use of prime farmland to support local food systems, maintain cultural heritage, and sustain the region’s agricultural economy.
• Ecological Services: Safeguarding groundwater recharge areas that sustain Spring Creek, an internationally recognized wild trout fishery, and maintaining forested habitat corridors to support wildlife movement and climate resilience.

Restoring a forested connection from Mount Nittany to Spring Creek Canyon would advance habitat connectivity across the valleys and reinforce the strong sense of place that defines this community.

For any development of this property, this group suggests no net increase in stormwater runoff and the highest standard of sewage treatment would be necessary to protect Spring Creek’s status as a high-quality cold-water fishery. 

“Centre County Farm Bureau fully supports the suggested use of the current Rockview property as outlined by the collaborating organizations,” said Daniel M. Kniffen, President of Centre County Farm Bureau. “It is the belief of this organization that the area will be best served if the property can remain as a source for critical above average ground water recharge, continued active farming and extensive forest production. The use will also continue to sustain the open space between two concentrated population centers. We believe this is a benefit appreciated by the local citizens and general population of both locales.”

Call for Transparency and Public Engagement

Stakeholders emphasized that decisions about the Rockview lands will have lasting impacts on the region and must include robust public input.

“ClearWater supported the creation of this letter because over the last year so many of our members and community partners have expressed concern about the future of the Rockview lands,” said Crisfield.

The group expressed readiness to partner with state agencies and local governments to help guide the planning process, offering technical expertise, community connections, and long-standing stewardship experience.

A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity

Few landscapes in Pennsylvania offer the unique combination of ecological function, agricultural productivity, and public visibility found at Rockview. Community leaders stress that the decisions made in the coming months will shape the region for decades.

“Protecting Mount Nittany in its natural state has been a generational project for Penn State alumni and residents of Central PA. Preservation of the Mountain must remain a priority for aesthetic, ecological, cultural, and recreational purposes, and the Mount Nittany Conservancy vigorously supports an ambitious, creative vision to extend this spirit of conservation to the surrounding landscape,” said Chris Buchignani, Vice President of Mount Nittany Conservancy.

Stakeholder Signatories

Daniel M. Kniffen, President, Centre County Farm Bureau
Dan Guss, President, Centre County Farmland Trust
Mary Sorensen, Executive Director, Centre County Historical Society
Bill Smith, Centre County Pennsylvania Senior Environmental Corps
Elizabeth Crisfield, Executive Director, ClearWater Conservancy
Bob Vierck, Chairman, Keystone Water Resources Center
Catherine Cohan, Lemont Village Association
Chris Buchignani, Vice President, Mount Nittany Conservancy
Kelly Forest, Chair, Sierra Club Moshannon Group
Zach Quinby, President, Spring Creek Chapter, Trout Unlimited
Tony Gehman, Owner, TCO Fly Fishing
Judy Onufrak, Interim Executive Director, Wildlife For Everyone

About the Agricultural and Conservation Stakeholders

This stakeholder group represents diverse organizations dedicated to conservation, agriculture, history, outdoor recreation, and community development across Centre County. Together, they are committed to ensuring that the future of the Rockview land reflects the region’s shared values and long-term sustainability.