DCNR’s Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting on July 22 to discuss DCNR’s infrastructure needs and priorities and the Protect Our Parks and Forests campaign.

Marci Mowery, President of PA Parks and Forests Foundation, will present an overview of their Protect Our Parks and Forests campaign.

In June, the Foundation launched an initiative to draw public attention to the over $1 billion in maintenance, safety and infrastructure needs in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests.

The Foundation pointed out the challenges facing state parks and forests, why investing in our parks and forests make sense for our economy and human health, and resources to take action.

State parks and forests attract millions of visitors each year and are part of the $29 billion outdoor recreation industry in the state.

Years of underfunding has led to bridges, dams, sewage treatment, recreational facilities and natural environments in poor shape. Deferring maintenance costs taxpayers more money in the long run.

And now, more than ever, the public is turning to the outdoors for physical, mental and emotional health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pennsylvania state parks experienced a high number of visitors at the start of the pandemic response, and that trend has continued.

When comparing visitors to 2019, Pennsylvania state parks saw a:

-- 29 percent increase in visitors compared to March 2019

-- 13.3 percent increase in visitors over April 2019

-- 36 percent increase in visitors over May 2019

According to a Pennsylvania Environmental Council report on The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Pennsylvania’s Non-Motorized Trails, Pennsylvania trails experienced a 52 percent increase in visitors during March compared to 2019, and a 97 percent increase compared to 2018.

A Rails-to-Trails Conservancy survey also confirms that people are turning to the outdoors at this time. According to its survey:

-- Nearly half of people (46 percent) indicated that having access to open spaces has reduced their stress levels during the pandemic.

-- More than half (52 percent) are exercising outdoors in their immediate neighborhoods and local trails.

-- Across the country, trail count data shows surging trail use, with numbers of people out on trails spiking to levels more than 200 percent higher than last year at the same time.

In addition, people are putting money where their interest is. Sales of outdoor recreation equipment increased during March and April over last year, showing:

-- 85 percent increase in the purchase of kayaks;

-- 121 percent increase in the purchase of bikes;

-- 30 percent increase in the purchase of camping gear; and

-- 15 percent increase in the purchase of birding supplies.  Read more here.

In announcing the initiative, Marci Mowery, President of the PA Parks and Forests Foundation, said, “Pennsylvania’s parks and forests are protected under our Environmental Rights Amendment to our state constitution.

“They are essential to the nature of who we are, our cultural identity, and to protecting human and environmental health. They also provide a myriad of services that, if we had to replicate today, would cost millions of dollars. Investing in our parks and forests makes sense.”  Read more here.

Visit the Protect Our Parks and Forests website to learn more.

Alfred Uzokwe, Director of Facility Design and Construction, will also provide a status report on DCNR’s infrastructure priorities.

Click Here for a complete meeting agenda.

Note: Anyone interested in making a comment during the public comment portion of the meeting should contact Katrina Harris by 5:00 p.m. July 21 by sending an email to: kharris@bridgeconsultingcorp.com.

The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to register to join the meeting online via WebEx.

Visit DCNR’s Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council for more information.  Questions should be directed to Katrina Harris by sending an email to: kharris@bridgeconsultingcorp.com.

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[Posted: July 16, 2020]

7/20/2020