Ground was broken for the new park by Pennsylvania Governor George M. Leader in May 1958,[3] and a preliminary dedication ceremony was held on grounds of the new park in October 1958, during which Leader was presented with a commemorative plaque in memory of Pinchot by the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.

Theodore Roosevelt once said 'Gifford Pinchot is the man to whom the nation owes most for what had been accomplished regards the preservation of the natural resources of our country.'

[8] Leader then presided over a preliminary dedication of park grounds when he accepted a commemorative plaque, which paid tribute to Pinchot, from the Pennsylvania Forestry Association in mid-October of that same year.

An old stone farmhouse was razed, and a new registration structure, seven washhouses and a series of new roads were also built as part of the project, and new water and sewer lines were installed.

The central 340-acre (140 ha) Pinchot Lake is an important recreation site featuring a designated swim area on an artificial beach, boat launch with rentals and tours, and prime bass fishing.

Two 18-hole disc golf courses and volleyball courts are nearby the picnic areas for day use.