Pennsylvania's newest state park just got a little bigger, and steelhead anglers just got a promise of long-term stream access.

Girard Township, 12 miles west of Erie at the mouth of Elk Creek, has accepted a $400,000 offer from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to purchase the 81-acre Elk Creek Access Area adjacent to Erie Bluffs State Park.

The parcel, which will be added to the park, includes frontage on Elk Creek and Lake Erie. The purchase insures that anglers will continue to have access to a popular stretch of the creek and lake

"We will make improvements to the access road, restroom, launch area and trails," said DCNR spokeswoman Chris Novak. "Those improvements would not start for a year or so until we had time to line up the funds, design and bid them. This is a popular steelhead fishing destination. Once we're done with the improvements, visitors should have a better experience."

The purchase expands Erie Bluffs State Park to 621 acres. Opened in 2004, Erie Bluffs contains the largest undeveloped stretch of Lake Erie shoreline in Pennsylvania.

At present, the park has no developed facilities, but includes a mile of shoreline and 90-foot bluffs overlooking Lake Erie. It's home to some world-class steelhead runs; old-growth forest; rare, endangered and threatened plants; a thriving wetlands and archaeological sites that DCNR describes as "significant."

Ice fishing, skating and other ice-time recreational activities are prohibited at the 101-acre Raccoon Lake at Raccoon Creek State Park in Beaver County. Park officials said fluctuating water levels caused by an ongoing maintenance project has made the ice unsafe. The draw-down is expected to continue through mid-February.

Students and their families can learn the art of fly tying at classes hosted by the non-profit teen mentoring group Family Tyes.

At 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Family Tyes will sponsor an activities fair at Baldwin High School's south cafeteria. Participants can learn about Family Tyes programs, trips and events, tie a fly, cast a fly rod and feel the pull of a "lunker" on a virtual fishing machine.

Fly tying classes begin Feb. 6 and meet Wednesdays in the Baldwin-Whitehall Harrison Middle School cafeteria. Registration is $40. Find the registration form at www.FamilyTyes.com.

Take advantage of the solid ice, while it lasts, at a Family Ice Fishing Clinic at Cloe Lake, a 27-acre reservoir two miles east of Punxsutawney. Held following the Groundhog Day festivities from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, the clinic offers families personalized instruction and guidance on ice-fishing basics such as ice safety, knot tying, baiting the hook, jigging and use of tip-ups. No fishing license is required for this educational program. Equipment is provided, and hot food and beverages will be sold. The clinic is sponsored by the Jefferson County Federation of Sportsman's Clubs and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Registration recommended. Contact David Smith at 814-938-8397 or dls2@penn.com.

Nonprofit groups have a few days left to apply for BoatU.S. Foundation grants of up to $4,000 for projects that teach boaters about clean water issues and stewardship of waterways. The group says project proposals that provide ways to slow the spread of invasive species will get special consideration.

Last year, over 100 proposals were submitted for the foundation's Clean Water Grant program. Fourteen projects in 11 states were funded. Applications are at BoatUS.com/foundation/cleanwater/grants. They must be submitted electronically or postmarked by midnight, Feb. 1.

A western Pennsylvania hunter has been given the Safari Club International Foundation's Pathfinder Award, presented to hunters who overcome physical disabilities to preserve the hunting heritage.

Ronald "Paul" McDowell grew up near Kittanning and was disabled in 1958 in an automobile accident. He hunts from an all-terrain vehicle augmented with a power chair lift that elevates him into the trees.

Members of Safari Club International selected McDowell during the group's recent Hunters Convention in Reno, Nev.