For the past 10 years, the Laurel Highlands On And Off-Road Bicycling Association has been working to create new biking opportunities for the community.

But with the state budget deadline fast approaching, local officials said funding for state parks could still be at risk. Now, the bicycling group is worried that recreation in the Alleghenies will suffer.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources previously said it may close more than 30 parks in Pennsylvania, some locally. One of the parks on the list is Blue Knob, where the Laurel Highlands bicycling group maintains about 30 to 40 miles of trails.

Representatives from the group said they have sent e-mails to everyone they know who bikes, urging them to lobby their state legislators to keep the parks open and cut the budget in other ways.

Even though many bike trails are in state parks and on other public lands, LHORBA still maintains them. The club currently has more than 70 members, all of them volunteers.

In addition to Blue Knob, the group helps with trails in Forbes State Forest, Lake Raystown and Yellow Creek State Park.

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