TIOGA, Pa. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District held a ceremonial signing of the cooperative agreement with the Friends of Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes today at the Ives Run Visitor Center.
The purpose of the agreement, which was signed Nov. 14 with the Friends, is to provide volunteers, services, educational programs and family events for the local community.
"The partnership with the Friends will provide additional outdoor recreational and educational opportunities for families, while simultaneously protecting and improving natural resources,” said Robert Schnell, operations project manager for Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes.
The Corps will continue to provide visitor assistance, perform maintenance and oversee all operations in these parks.
"We are very excited to have formed this new partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District," said Don Kelly, president of the Friends of Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes. "The Corps and members of the Friends have a common vision for success in local recreation. This partnership will allow us to jointly serve visitors with the excellence they expect year after year."
Other Corps projects throughout the country use cooperative agreements to operate parks and increase volunteers.
"Declining federal recreation budgets in recent years require an innovative approach to operating our nation’s parks," said Col. Trey Jordan, commander of the Baltimore District. "By collaborating with partners like the Friends of Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes, we can keep parks open and continue to offer quality recreation to millions of visitors every year."
Each year, an estimated 250,000 people use the many public parks, shelters and campgrounds conveniently located at Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes.
Release no. 14-002