Harrisburg, Pa- September 13 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Maurice K. Goddard, patriarch of the Pennsylvania state park system. Goddard served under five Pennsylvania governors as Secretary of Forests and Waters and as the founding secretary of the Department of Environmental Resources.

During his tenure Goddard added 45 parks and 130,000 acres of public park land to the state. Goddard’s hard work helped to make Pennsylvania’s park system one of the best in the country. In, 2009 Pennsylvania received the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. The Goddard Legacy Project began the same year to increase awareness of Goddard’s impact.

Goddard’s work as a public servant included: