To mark this special occasion, a 20th Anniversary Celebration - A Legacy of Stewardship - will be held on May 1 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Center.
A Legacy of Accomplishment
Tom Ridge was born in Allegheny County, but grew up in Erie. He served as the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania, the first-ever Secretary of Homeland Security, and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In a 1996 speech, Gov. Ridge recounted the very personal connection he had with Presque Isle sharing how he spent summers on the beaches and later worked in the maintenance department at the park.
“As a father, I’ve brought my own children to Presque Isle’s sandy beaches to enjoy its water, its trails and something it’s most famous for-- those incredible sunsets.
“Presque Isle taught me the value of our natural resources, and I have spent a lifetime working to preserve them.” Read more here.
Gov. Ridge championed the idea that the economy and environment can prosper in harmony and that sustainability should be part of government.
During the Administrations of Gov. Ridge and Gov. Mark Schweiker, environmental programs and initiatives they pioneered won more national and international awards for innovation than any other state in the country, then or since.
The flagship Land Recycling brownfield cleanup and reuse program established a model for other states and nations to emulate that stimulated economic development in thousands of communities across the state.
The Growing Greener Program remains the largest single investment in cleaning up abandoned mines, restoring watershed, expanding recreation opportunities and preserving farmland.
Creating the separate departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources served to focus more attention on protecting the environment and better conserving Pennsylvania's natural resources and managing our State Parks.
Pennsylvania's 2.2 million acres of State Forests became the largest certified sustainable forest in North America at the time.
Other initiatives included the first Money-Back Guarantee Permit Review Program if decisions weren’t made on time; the first Regulatory Basics Initiative that reviewed over 13,000 pages of regulations making changes that saved businesses and local governments over $154 million without sacrificing environmental protections; the first online reporting system-- eFACTS-- for environmental inspection results for thousands of permit holders; adoption of a Zero Pollution goal and promoting pollution prevention that went beyond regulations; established the first Good Samaritan law to promote the cleanup of abandoned mines and oil and gas wells by community groups; Growing Smarter Land Use Reforms; the first comprehensive water resources planning law; promoting new green technologies to improve the environment; enhancing public participation and dramatically expanding environmental education to all ages; establishing the first Environmental Justice program; established a Governor’s 21st Century Environment Commission to help chart the way for environmental and conservation policy into a new century; partnering to create the Senior Environmental Corps recognized by the United Nations Environmental Program; and partnering with the Game Commission to raise peregrine falcons on the Rachel Carson Building.
On September 11, 2001, the eyes of the world were on Pennsylvania as Gov. Ridge led the response to the unprecedented terrorist attack and the crash of Flight 93 in Somerset County and again in July 2002 when Gov. Schweiker led the successful rescue of nine coal miners at the Quecreek Mine, also in Somerset County.
These were just some of the accomplishments during the Ridge-Schweiker years.
Click Here for a more accomplishments.
Ridge Center History
The Center was first conceived in the 1950's by the architect of Pennsylvania's modern state park system, Maurice K. Goddard, as a museum and education center that would convey the geological and ecological significance of Presque Isle.
That vision was reborn in 1998 when the Center was imagined as a world class facility for educators, researchers, students of all ages and the millions of annual visitors to the peninsula.
In May 2006, the Tom Ridge Environmental Center opened as a fully realized dream for Erie: a place where visitors could learn about the wonders of the Great Lakes; students could be immersed in hands-on environmental education programs; tourists could gather information about other local destinations; and scientists could study and collaborate on research projects.
To commemorate this milestone and celebrate all things Presque Isle, the Tom Ridge Environmental Center Foundation and Presque Isle Partnership are coming together to honor two families who have had an incredible impact on how Presque Isle looks and functions today: The Tom and Michele Ridge Family and The Guerrein Family.
Don Guerrein founded the Presque Isle Partnership in 1994 to help the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources carry out projects and improvements that could not be completed through the Commonwealth budget.
Don's wife, Paula, started the first gift shop and their legacy carries on through the involvement of their children and granddaughter who currently serves on the board of directors for the Partnership.
The TREC Foundation was founded in 2003 leading up to the opening of TREC to help enhance education, science, research and the visitor experience at TREC and Presque Isle.
While the building bears the name of Governor Ridge, the family legacy of involvement extends to several family members past and current service on the board of directors and past service on the Presque Isle Advisory Committee.
These two families have committed generational time and resources to the betterment of Presque Isle State Park, and by extension the quality of life in our region.
Visit the Tom Ridge Environmental Center website to learn more about
Resource Links:
-- Gov. Tom Ridge On Leadership: I Call For Pennsylvania To Be A Showcase Of Well-Reasoned And Inspired Environmental Leadership [PaEN]
-- 1995-2002: Awards And Recognition For Environmental Programs During The Ridge & Schweiker Administrations
-- Gov. Tom Ridge: My Fellow Conservatives Are Out Of Touch On The Environment [PaEN] [2020]
-- Gov. Tom Ridge: Republicans Must Do A Better Job On The Environment [2020]
-- 1995-2002 - DEP Secretary James M. Seif: The Assignment Was Clear - Take The Kick Me! Sign Off DER [PaEN]
-- 1995-2002 - DEP Secretary David E. Hess: Many New Hands Now Help Protect Penn’s Woods [PaEN]
-- 1996 - Department of Environmental Protection Mission Statement & Statement Of Values [PaEN]
[Posted: April 24, 2026] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment