By Cindy Adams Dunn, Acting Secretary of DCNR, and John Norbeck Deputy Secretary for Parks & Forestry

The following testimony was presented to the House Tourism And Economic And Recreation Development Committee on April 25, 2023.

By conserving and stewarding our Commonwealth's natural resources, DCNR is vital to Pennsylvania's booming outdoor recreation industry.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, this industry-which ranges from the design and manufacture of outdoor equipment to the professional services of fishing guides and construction workers- adds almost $14 billion of value to the Pennsylvania economy and supports 152,000 jobs.

Beyond these direct economic contributions, outdoor recreation opportunities drive tourism across the Commonwealth.

For example, the Great Allegheny Passage generates $800,000 a year in economic impact per mile of trail--a $121 million impact for the entire trail--revitalizing rural southwest Pennsylvania communities.

[Note: During her March 21 budget hearing Dunn noted, “The lottery ticket for us is the recreation economy-- it’s bigger than gas, it’s bigger than a lot of other industries combined and it helps attract young people to live, work and play in Pennsylvania and helps retain and bring people back.”  Read more here.]

Outdoor recreation's effectiveness at attracting tourism revenue is complemented by its role in attracting new businesses and industries to Pennsylvania, for which it is just as important as market access, corporate tax rates, and energy costs.

A key element of Governor Shapiro's proposed budget is funding to create a Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation to unite, grow, and strengthen Pennsylvania's outdoor economy.

Last year, DCNR hired Nathan Reigner, Pennsylvania's first director of outdoor recreation.

By creating an office, Pennsylvania will join 18 other states that have recognized the power of outdoor recreation to empower economic growth; retain and attract new residents; drive tourism; expand access to the outdoors; and improve public health and community wellbeing.

Pennsylvania will be the largest state in both population and economy--to seize this transformative opportunity.

Recreation for All

Ensuring access to outdoor recreation for all Pennsylvanians is a central part of DCNR's mission.

One of DCNR's major goals is every Pennsylvanian living within 10 minutes of a park or trail.

In 2019, DCNR partnered with the Trust for Public Land and WeConservePA on a first-of-its-kind analysis to examine who in Pennsylvania has outdoor recreation access within 10 minutes of home- and more importantly, who does not.

We are now expanding that analysis to better account for diversity, equity, and inclusion priorities, examining the entire state at the census block group level and layering park and trail access with demographic, socioeconomic, health, and other key factors.

This improved analysis will allow us to measure progress toward our goal, better identify communities of need, and inform decisions about where to prioritize investment in recreational amenities.

The provided handout explains this work in greater depth, and our staff has created a website for you to explore the data.

DCNR has also installed "Nature for All-Everyone Is Welcome Here" trailhead

welcome signs in state parks and forests to promote inclusive public lands.

And in 2022, thanks to money allocated in the budget, DCNR established three new state parks: Big Elk Creek, Susquehanna Riverlands, and Vosburg Neck.

Criteria for choosing the locations included proximity to population centers and unmet demand for outdoor recreation in the area.

Community Grants

Through the Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2), DCNR provides grants to nonprofits and local governments in every corner of the Commonwealth for parks, playgrounds, ballfields, trails, and land conservation.

2022 was a huge year for the C2P2 program: DCNR granted $92 million for 335 funded projects, the highest amount of grant funding available in a decade, and these grants leveraged even more money from local matches.

This includes a special fall grant funded in part by $25 million in [federal] ARPA money allocated in the budget that awarded $41.6 million for 98 projects, many in small or distressed communities.

Overall, DCNR's 2022 C2P2 grant funding supported 43 trail projects, preservation of 7,100 acres of open space, and 162 community park projects.

DNCR also granted $11.8 million in tree planting grants for streamside buffers and street trees to prevent flooding, reduce urban heat, and protect clean water, $8.8 million of which came from ARPA money in last year's budget.

These local projects funded by DCNR grants attract tourists from near and far, while also improving quality of life in communities for the people who live there.

They would not be possible without funding from dedicated funding sources like the Keystone Fund and Environmental Stewardship Fund.

State Parks and Forests

During the pandemic, many people discovered or re-discovered the benefits of the outdoors by visiting state parks and forests, which remained open thanks to the hard work of our dedicated staff.

Though the pandemic is behind us, D C continues to welcome millions of annual visitors from across the state and country to our 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forests.

In 2022, an estimated 37.9 million people visited state parks, which is a decline from the 42.2 million in 2021 but is still higher than the average of the three pre-COVID years.

And reservations for overnight facilities (such as campgrounds and cabins) remain much higher than before the pandemic.

However, there is a documented $1.4 billion maintenance backlog in state parks and forests that prevents Pennsylvania from fully capitalizing on the revenue generation and overall economic impact of outdoor recreation.

Many of the facilities were constructed decades ago, and essential infrastructure like dams, roads, and sewer systems require repairs to allow visitors to safely enjoy the parks and forests and continue coming back.

DCNR is using $75 million in [federal] ARPA money allocated in last year's budget to complete high-priority infrastructure projects, and Governor Shapiro's budget allocates $112 million--the largest investment in a generation-to allow DCR to complete even. More high-priority projects.

In addition to attracting more people to state parks and forests, these investments will save the Commonwealth money in the long run by fixing problems before they become even more dangerous and expensive.

They will also inject money into communities through the locally owned companies DCNR contracts to complete the work.

Thank you for giving us the chance to speak with you today.  We look forward to partnering with you to further our mission and ensure that people, businesses and communities across our Commonwealth thrive.

Click Here to watch a video of the hearing.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP, DCNR, Guests Honored Franklin Kury, Author Of PA Environmental Rights Amendment, With Dedication In Rachel Carson Building  [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay: DCNR’s Conservation And Stewardship Of State’s Natural Resources Is Vital To Pennsylvania's Booming Outdoor Recreation Industry - By Cindy Adams Dunn, Acting Secretary of DCNR, and John Norbeck Deputy Secretary for Parks & Forestry  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Highlights Importance Of Trees In Communities On National Arbor Day At Cumberland County Event  [PaEN]

-- April 28 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

[Posted: April 28, 2023]

5/1/2023