The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee this week released the findings of the 2009 Mansfield University Statewide Survey asking the public about how they used Pennsylvania's State Parks.

Some of the results of the survey include:

-- 53.4 percent said they visited a State Park at least once in the last year;

-- 51.4 percent said they visited 2 to 4 parks;

-- 18.5 percent said they never visited a State Park;

-- 79.9 percent said they visited a day or less;

-- 70.6 percent of those who stayed overnight said they preferred camping in the parks;

-- 59.6 percent said they would prefer using a lodge if one was available; and

-- 66.3 percent said they would pay an admission fee to a State Park.

The complete results are available online.

Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as the Chair of the Joint Committee and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne serves as Vice Chair.

6/26/2009