Beltzville State Park is looking to fill its vacant park manager position.

Ben Monk, who served as the park manager for the past four years, is now the manager at Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset County.

State park managers often move around in the system, as was the case with Monk, whose move was a promotion, according to Christina Novak, director of the Office of Communications, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“DCNR is working to fill the position at Beltzville,” said Novak, who added an announcement is made by news release when new managers are in place. “In the interim, operations at Beltzville are being overseen by Assistant Park Manager Jim Eckert from the Hickory Run State Park Complex.”

Monk was announced as park manager at Beltzville in January 2021.

He replaced Alma Holmes, who left for a position at French Creek State Park after four years at Beltzville.

Monk was previously an assistant park manager at Ohiopyle State Park.

He was the fourth manager at Beltzville since 2013. Before Holmes, the park was managed by Devin Buzard, who replaced Kevin Koflanovich.

In October, the Army Corps of Engineers held an open house to hear input about revising the 1971 Master Plan for Beltzville State Park which began a 30-day comment period.

The master plan is defined as “the strategic land use management document that guides the comprehensive management and development of all recreational, natural, and cultural resources throughout the life of the water resource development project.”

It defines how the Army Corps of Engineers will manage the resources for public use and conservation.

Due to a population increase in the area, along with outdoor recreation use and needs having changed, the 1971 plan needs updating.

Revised land and water use classifications and new natural and recreational objectives are a key part of the new plan.

Invasive species and threatened and endangered species will also be explored when revising the plan.

Comments for the plan revision were accepted until Nov. 9.

There will also be future opportunities to comment on the plan at another meeting. A public draft will be available in October, with additional public comment in November.

The final plan is expected to be approved in 2026.

The increased popularity at Beltzville highlighted issues with the large crowds at the park, a situation that’s existed for several years.

On various weekends last summer, parking areas reached capacity. In addition, visitors often park illegally along Pohopoco Drive.