One of the oldest covered bridges in the state needs repairs or it might not exist much longer.

John Dworsky, a board member of Friends of Beltzville State Park, said the repairs are necessary for Buck covered bridge at Beltzville State Park.“If we don’t do something within the next few years, we won’t be able to do anything (to save it),” Dworsky said.Friends of Beltzville State Park was founded nearly two years ago to provide education and preserve the park. The organization has over two dozen members.Dworsky and his group have an ambitious plan to save the bridge, starting with raising money to have the bridge repaired.The cost of the restoration has not yet been determined due to the complexity of the work needed.Dworsky has been busy visiting municipalities explaining the project, including Franklin Township board of supervisors, Towamensing Supervisors and the Carbon County Commissioners.“We don’t want to raise funds until everybody’s on board,” he said.The Franklin and Towamensing supervisors have been supportive.“Hopefully by May or June, we’ll have a kickoff,” Dworsky said.The bridge, which measures 66 feet long and 13 feet wide, was constructed for horse and buggy in 1841 by Paul Buck, a local craftsman, on his family’s property in Towamensing to span the Pohopoco Creek. Later it was used as a one-lane bridge for cars.It was moved to its present site at Beltzville State Park in 1970 when Beltzville Lake was created at the urging of local residents.Diane Szwajkowski, chairwoman of the Friends of Beltzville, said members of the Buck family are still living locally and are supporting the project.“We want to see it restored,” Dworsky said. “If we do it right, it will last another 100 years.”“Historically it is important because it’s a covered bridge,” he said at the meeting of the supervisors. “It’s one of the few left in the county and even the state.”The supervisors offered to provide a letter of support regarding the project.Szwajkowski said once the project officially kicks off, the first phase will be to have an engineering evaluation conducted.He said an engineering study will determine if the bridge can be renovated on site or if it has to be taken apart and then rebuilt.“If we take it apart, who owns it and where do we store it?” Dworsky said.No matter how extensive the project, Dworksy said, “We want to keep it historically accurate.”He said some support beams are rotting. Those beams are constructed of wormy chestnut wood, he said, adding that it can’t be replaced with the same type of wood because of regulations.Szwajkowski said the bridge is a big attraction at the park and because of its beauty, is frequently utilized as a backdrop for weddings, anniversaries and other special events. She said, “Someone could get hurt and then (the state) wouldn’t let people use it or maybe even tear it down.”Dworsky said it is impossible to know how much renovations to the bridge will cost.He has set a goal, though.“My target is five years until it’s done,” he said.On Thursday, Dworsky also asked the Carbon County Commissioners for their support.Both Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, chairman; and William O’Gurek said that the county will do whatever needs to be done to help make this project a success. Possibilities are a letter of support or helping the group find available grants from either the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which owns the bridge; or the Local Share Account, which comes from gaming money at Mount Airy Casino.Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard was absent when Dworsky went to the meeting.Dworsky said that in addition to the letters of support the group has already received, it has a letter from DCNR permitting the restoration to take place.Friends of Beltzville State Park meets at 7 p.m. today and on the first Monday of every month at the Environmental Interpretive Building. Meetings are open to visitors. Various membership packages are available. The club conducts periodic walks, cleanups and other projects to benefit Beltzville State Park.For more information, contact Dworsky at 610-377-2727 or Szwajkowski at 215-230-0654; or send an email to

info@FOBSP.org.Reporter Amy Miller contributed to this story.