What's to be done when state parks are so awesome, they're in danger of being loved to death?

Beltzville isn't the only state park that's had to close its gates due to overcrowding, said Terry Brady, spokesman for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resource. He said that many state parks in southeast Pennsylvania get the same pressure from heavy use, especially on hot holiday weekends.In fact, in May DCNR launched "Penn's Parks for All - Planning for the State Parks of Tomorrow." Brady said that the first step in the plan is a major survey - polling visitors, staff and the public - to get their vision for the future of the state's parks.Here are a couple sample questions: How should we pay for our state parks? How can we protect our state parks? How is visitor satisfaction with park services and facilities? How appropriate are certain facilities and activities in our state parks? If you'd like to participate, go to

www.dcnr.state.pa.us, and look on the right-hand side for the tab "Take Our Survey.""Beltzville is not alone," Brady said. "We're hoping to get a sense from everyone on what they want from our state parks. This survey will be a major sampling.""We (DCNR) pride ourselves on free admission to our parks," he added. "It's important that all folks, including those from urban backgrounds, have the opportunity for outdoor recreation in a beautiful setting."Online reviews of Beltzville State Park visits would support that view:"The trip from New York was long but so worth it, a slice of heaven," said a respondent from Brooklyn."My favorite lake, it's just that type of place where you feel happy after going to it," said a respondent from Hoboken.Diane Szwajkowski, who chairs the Friends of Beltzville State Park, said that the group is dedicated to protecting and preserving the park, while promoting education of visitors."Everybody deserves access to state parks," she said. "We take it for granted because we live in a beautiful place."Szwajkowski said that a park official recently told her a story about visitors whose first comments were about the beauty of the grass in the park."If you're a city dweller you don't see anything like that," she said. "Beltzville does get a lot of bad publicity during busy holiday weekends, but most of the year there aren't any problems."After the busy Fourth of July week, volunteers from Friends of Beltzville State Park met at the park to help clean up the access road, parking and beach areas."My experience in being part of this group is that it's important to choose to do something about an area you love," she said. "Step up and help take care of things."Beltzville closed early on July 4 because of overcrowding. That's not uncommon on a busy holiday. People have parked on the road and walked with coolers to the beach. Vehicles were towed.Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, said that after Beltzville Park closed at 2 p.m. on July 4, his office was "inundated with calls."He said he has met with DCNR secretary Cindy Dunn to discuss the issues there, and is working to create a task force.Numerous photos have also been posted on social media showing trash left on the grass by visitors."I enjoyed visiting Beltzville State Park throughout my life and my father served as a DCNR ranger at the park for 15 years," Heffley said. "I am saddened to see the current state of Beltzville and I am committed to improving conditions so area residents can once again enjoy its beauty."In May, Heffley introduced House Bill 1458, which would allow DCNR to impose fees or charges for activities, admissions, uses or privileges at state parks. The fees would be used for the maintenance, operation or administration of the park system. Those who hold hunting or fishing licenses or have state-registered watercraft would be exempt from the fee."This bill would strictly address recreational areas and would provide DCNR with the option to levy a parking fee for those areas for visitors - with higher fees for out-of-state residents," Heffley explained. "The purpose of this legislation is not to gouge visitors who want to enjoy our local parks but to provide a funding stream to ensure public safety, facility upgrades and maintenance."