The Pennsylvania Senate recently passed legislation that would transfer a small portion of state park land to a Rush Township golf course.

Senate Bill 467 is now before the state House of Representatives.

If approved, the bill would authorize the state Department of General Services to convey a 100-foot by 500-foot parcel of land to the White Birch Golf Course and Restaurant in Barnesville for $1.

The land is part of Tuscarora State Park; however, the golf course had leased the area for parking for more than 60 years from the state. There was no cost, but the golf course was required to maintain the land. The land is at the edge of the state park and was never used for anything state park-related.

The lease agreement had to be renegotiated when the golf course was sold in 2022. The proposed agreement asked for $100,000 initially and a lease of about $5,000 per year.

In March 2024, the golf course launched a petition to oppose the new agreement as the state placed piles of dirt on the parking lot entrances. The petition received an outpouring of community support, and area legislators pledged to fight against the lease.

State Sen. David Argall also introduced legislation to transfer the parcel to the golf course. In June 2024, the dirt piles were removed.

Under Senate Bill 467, the golf course would pay $1 for the property.

The bill also removes public land-use restrictions on specific land owned by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, so it can be repurposed.

The legislation is now under consideration in the House State Government Committee. To become law, it needs approval from the committee and full House, along with a signature from the governor.