Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Invites Public Comment to Shape a Bold Vision for Outdoor Recreation in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG– Last Week, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced a series of webinars and an open opportunity for people to share their thoughts on ways to improve and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania.
The public will be able to comment on a draft of the 2025-2029 Pennsylvania Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) from February 3 through March 3. An online public input form(opens in a new tab) is available on DCNR’s website, and webinars on the five priority areas for the 2025-2029 SCORP will be conducted during this period.
“This plan is critical for the future of outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania, and I encourage those interested to share perspectives to help us design more people-focused initiatives for the future,” Secretary Dunn said. “Outdoor recreation delivers huge benefits for all of us – from driving local economies, to helping us lead healthy, active lifestyles. We all need outdoor recreation in our lives, and this plan makes recommendations on how we can make it accessible to everyone.”
Priority areas in the five-year plan and their related webinar dates are:
- Promoting Community and Economic Development – February 3 – 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Register(opens in a new tab)
- Advancing Health and Wellness – February 5 – 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Register(opens in a new tab)
- Supporting Equity and Inclusion – February 10 – 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Register(opens in a new tab)
- Addressing Infrastructure and Maintenance – February 12– 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Register(opens in a new tab)
- Progressing on Sustainability and Climate Change – February 19 – 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Register(opens in a new tab)
There were multiple surveys(opens in a new tab) that informed the draft plan, including a Penn State Lion Poll(opens in a new tab) from a web-panel survey of more than 1,000 adult Pennsylvanians, a public survey(opens in a new tab), and a recreation providers survey(opens in a new tab). One of the key findings — out of more than 8,000 responses — revealed Pennsylvanians’ strong connection between outdoor recreation and mental well-being.
Every five years, states must develop a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan to guide policies, programs, and investments while remaining eligible for federal funding.
SCORP enables Pennsylvania to remain eligible for federal grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has provided more than $216 million since 1965 to fund projects including: parks and historic sites; forest, river, and wildlife habitat conservation; and access to recreation, hunting, and fishing. The 2020-24 SCORP Plan – Recreation for All(opens in a new tab) – focused on 20 recommendations and 70 action steps for meeting the outdoor recreation needs of all Pennsylvanians.
Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry contributes $19 billion(opens in a new tab) to the Commonwealth’s economy, represents 2 percent of its GDP, and supports more than 68,000 jobs that provide $9 billion in wages and salaries.
Visit DCNR’s website(opens in a new tab) to learn more about Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Recreation Plan and check out DCNR’s Calendar of Events(opens in a new tab) for happenings on public lands.
