When R.P. Good founded Alto-Reste Park in 1925, he promised the citizens of Blair county that our grounds would provide a place of peace for generations. He committed to our community that we would have burial grounds at Alto-Reste Park that were permanent and perpetually maintained, and designed our property to offer comfort and beauty to those experiencing unexplainable pain and sadness. R.P. intentionally chose this land, with the knowledge that preparing for the future was critical to fulfilling his promise. Alto-Reste Park is now being led by the third and fourth generations of our family, and our commitment to the community remains the same.

On January 7th, 2025, Alto-Reste Park received a letter from the Blair County Commissioners office that included an offer to purchase a 77 acre portion of land owned by us. The county wants to use this land to construct a new prison and claimed in the offer that our land was “necessary for the project”. The Board of Directors of Alto-Reste Park declined the offer for numerous reasons. In the meeting of the Blair County Commissioners held on Thursday, February 20, 2025, they discussed three potential sites for the new prison and, even though we communicated to the county that we were not interested in selling our land, they stated that our property is still the preferred site to build the new prison.

We have been watching their weekly meeting agenda since the February meeting, and noticed for the March 20, 2025 meeting that "Requesting approval to advertise an Ordinance signifying the intent to take by eminent domain of a fee simple interest of two parcels of land in the township of Allegheny" was on the agenda. We were concerned that they were referring to our property, and attended the meeting so we could give our side during public comment.

When the vote came, they voted 2 - 1 to proceed with the advertisement, so the County Commissioners have decided to take the next step to go down the eminent domain road, and attempt to take our property.

If you wish to support us and make your voice heard regarding the prison project proceeding on our grounds, please sign this petition and contact the Blair County Board of Commissioners, PA State Senator Judy Ward, PA State Representative Lou Schmitt, Jr. and PA State Representative Scott Barger. Here is the necessary contact information:

Blair County Board of Commissioners:

• Phone: (814) 693-3030
• Contact Form: www.blairco.org/departments/commissioners/contactkessling

PA State Senator Judy Ward:

• Phone: (814) 695-8386

PA State Representative Lou Schmitt, Jr.:

• Phone: (814) 946-7218
• Contact Form: www.repschmitt.com/Contact

PA State Representative Scott Barger:

• Phone: (814) 695-2398
• Contact Form: www.repbarger.com/Contact