DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council Meets March 24 On Land & Water Trail Network Plan; Equity In The Outdoors

The DCNR Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting March 24 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon to hear a presentation on the new Land and Water Trail Network Plan.

Also on the agenda is the Equity In The Outdoors discussion with stakeholders coming up April 29.

Trail Network Plan

Alex MacDonald, Chief of the Trails, Greenways and Statewide Planning Section for DCNR's Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, will discuss the recently released Land and Water Trail Network Strategic Plan.  Read more here.

This plan outlines goals and strategies to ensure motorized and non-motorized trails continue to facilitate recreation, transportation, and healthy lifestyles for all Pennsylvanians for years to come.  

The plan includes seven recommendations and 40 action steps for Pennsylvania's 12,000 miles of trails. 

Equity In The Outdoors

The Council will be hosting a series of conversations designed to provide a communications channel for stakeholders, partners, and users to meaningfully participate in discussions on key issues, and to collect information for use by CNRAC in advising DCNR regarding the conservation and stewardship of the Commonwealth’s natural resources.  

The first discussion on April 29 starting at Noon will help CNRAC support DCNR in its efforts to learn more about how social barriers inhibit participation and enjoyment of Pennsylvania’s outdoors, particularly as DCNR is experiencing record-breaking visitation numbers and anticipating these numbers to continue.  

CNRAC will use the information to make recommendations for future DCNR programming.  

The session will present several speakers who will discuss their personal experiences and those of their peers of how social barriers affected their interaction and use of outdoor spaces.

Speakers and more information will be announced soon.  Send an email to: kharris@bridgeconsultingcorp.com to be added to the email list for more information.

DCNR Budget

Stacie Amsler, DCNR's Director of the Bureau of Administrative Services, will give the Council an update on DCNR's proposed budget for the next fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021.  Read more here.

Public Comments

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the March 24 meeting.  If you are interested in presenting comments at the meeting, please advise by email to kharris@bridgeconsultingcorp.com no later than 5 p.m. on March 23, so you can be added as an active participant.  

You may also provide comments or questions after the meeting by emailing the same address or through the Council's website.

Click Here to register to attend the March 24 meeting via WebEx.

For more information, visit DCNR's Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council webpage.  If you would like to be notified of future meetings, send an email to: kharris@bridgeconsultingcorp.com. 

  For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, 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 Article:

-- DCNR Releases Land and Water Trail Network Plan To Ensure Access For All Pennsylvanians 

[Posted: March 16, 2021]  PA Environment Digest