York County Department of Parks & Recreation
Get your tickets now for our annual light show at Rocky Ridge, Christmas Magic - A Festival of Lights ChristmasMagicYork.com.
In 1968, the Board of Commissioners for York County established the York County Parks Department to provide the community with a wide variety of activities and to acquire, develop, maintain and preserve lands for future generations to enjoy. Today, we currently maintain over 4,300 acres of parkland in 11 county parks for your enjoyment throughout the county. For more information about the history of York County Parks and more about us, click here.
For safety, the parks have all the necessary disinfectants, as well as water to drink pills if you need.
Hours:
Park hours are dawn to dusk, with the exception of special events and fishing at William Kain Park.
Park Office:
John Rudy County Park Administrative Building is located at 400 Mundis Race Road, York, PA, 17406. Hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, closed daily from 12:30-1:00pm for lunch. The office is closed on holidays. Contact the parks office at 717-840-7440 or at parks@old.yorkcountypa.gov.
Nixon Park Nature Center:
Nixon Park Nature Center is located at 5922 Nixon Drive, York, PA 17403, Hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 8:30am - 4:30pm and Sunday, 12:00-4:30pm. The nature center is closed on Mondays and holidays. Contact the Nixon Park Nature Center at 717-428-1961 or at nixoncountypark@old.yorkcountypa.gov.
Park Rangers:
Park Rangers can be reached by calling 717-840-7440, option 3 or by calling 911 and asking for a Park Ranger.
Administrative Staff
Michael E. Fobes Parks Director (717) 840-7228
Teddy Fisher Assistant Director (717) 840-7227
Kelsey A. Frey Mgr. of Education & Outreach (717) 428-1961
Barry L. Myers Director of Public Works (717) 840-7230
Joshua Dewees Assistant Director of Public Works (717) 840-7610
Grant Gouker Asst. Supt. of Bldgs.& Grounds (717) 840-7610
Nancy Heiser Naturalist II (717) 840-7226
Josh Detweiler Naturalist II (717) 428-1961
Brandon Pentz Naturalist II (717) 428-1961
Hali Stough Administrative Assistant (717) 840-7440
Fern Weaver Administrative Support (717) 840-7440
George Erskine Chief Ranger (717) 840-7229
York County Advisory Board of Parks and Recreation Board Members
Chairperson - Joshua Bean, Vice Chair - Brian Addison, Secretary - Matt Dubbs, Lyndi Ilies, Kimberly Hogeman, David Morgan, Bernice Quesenberry, Zach Zimmerman and Jeffery Hortman.
Liaison to the Parks Board: Commissioner Ron Smith
York County Parks Foundation Charitable Trust Board of Trustees
President - Timothy E. Senft, Vice President - George "Skip" Lehmann, Secretary - Linda Davidson, Treasurer - Steven Ricklefs, Rick Cooper, Tammy Klunk, Milton J. Menchey, Michael Russo, Bobby Kinsley.
York County Parks Emeritus Board
George “Skip” Lehmann - Honorary Chairman
Annual Reports
Click on the videos listed below to learn more about the York County Parks!
The York County Planning Commissions History of the Parks' last 50 years!
Another look at the History of the York County Parks!
"The 2018 recipient of our Community Award"