State Budget: PA Parks & Forests Foundation: Pennsylvania Residents Overwhelmingly Support Investments In Trails

On June 21, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation released the results of a new Susquehanna Polling & Research poll showing 81 percent of registered Pennsylvania voters think that investments in trail improvements, including expanded trails in state parks and state forests, are important to quality of life and economic development in the Commonwealth. 

The poll found strong support for the importance of these trail investments across party affiliation, ideology, residential setting, gender, ethnicity, and geographic region.

“The strong support for investment in trails aligns with people’s outdoor activities,” said Marci Mowery, President of the Foundation. “Consistently, surveys for the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan have found that hiking and walking/running vie closely for the first and second spots as top ten outdoor activities.”

Yet trails include more than paved walking trails and natural surface hiking trails. Mountain biking and cycling also benefit from a robust trail system. 

Trails can provide safe access to communities, improve accessibility, connect parks to populations and provide safe routes to school and work.

The Shapiro administration has proposed $8.5 million in investments in DCNR’s trail system to better position Pennsylvania to continue to nurture and take fullest advantage of Pennsylvania’s growing outdoor recreation economy.  

According to DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn, these investments will--

-- Ensure that DCNR’s most popular trails in our state park and forests are sustainably designed and constructed to manage heavy traffic and withstand severe weather;

-- Ensure vigilant maintenance and management;

-- Support accessibility improvements that advance DCNR’s mission and strategic priority of “Recreation for All;”

-- Leverage outdoor recreation as a tool for economic competitiveness and business and workforce recruitment; and

-- Build capacity within DCNR to compete for and administer federal infrastructure funding that could support Pennsylvania’s trail networks.

Trails are a valuable investment in physical and mental health, and in our economy and quality of life. 

The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation urges the General Assembly to enhance these investments as it completes its work on the 2024-25 fiscal year budget.

Click Here for the complete announcement and graphics.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

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

For more information on programs, initiatives, special events and how you can get involved, visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Foundation,  Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter or tune in to their YouTube Channel.  Click Here to become a member of the Foundation.

The Foundation and their 48 chapters mobilize 65,000 volunteers annually to steward YOUR state parks and forests.

State Budget Resource Links:

-- State Budget: Growing Greener Coalition Urges Lawmakers To Support $80 - $100 Million Healthy Outdoors For All Program; Contact Your Legislator  [PaEN] 

-- State Budget: Chesapeake Bay Foundation Urges PA Lawmakers To Reinvest In Clean Streams Fund; Citizens To Contact Their Legislators  [PaEN]

-- State Budget: PA Environmental Council Sends Budget, Policy Recommendations To PA House, Senate Members  [PaEN] 

-- State Budget: PA Parks & Forests Foundation: Pennsylvania Residents Overwhelmingly Support Investments In Trails  [PaEN] 

-- PUC: Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee Revenue Drops $100 Million From Last Year’s Record To $179.6 Million; Puts Hole In State, Local Budgets  [PaEN] 

-- Gov. Shapiro’s Proposed 2024-25 Budget Includes DEP Permit Modernization Initiative, Expands PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Testing; Expands DCNR Trails Program, PA Outdoor Corp   [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Budget Testimony Reviews Funding Requests, Need For Continued Investment In Recreation, Natural Resources, Workforce Development [PaEN]

-- DEP Testimony Provides Overview Of Budget Request, Progress On Permitting, Environmental Justice, Infrastructure Investments, PFAS, Watershed Cleanup, Climate, Clean Energy Initiatives  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Oil & Gas Regulatory Program Will Be In The Red By Fall; All Sectors Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program No Go; Update On Permitting Reform  [PaEN]

-- DEP Reports ZERO Shale Gas Well Permits Under Review; DEP May Have Only 20% Of The Revenue Needed To Fund Its Oil & Gas Regulation Program  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR, Local Groups Celebrate The Allegheny River As The 2024 River Of The Year  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Showcases Improvements At Leonard Harrison State Park - PA’s Grand Canyon - In Pennsylvania Wilds

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Virtual Book Club Features 'Susquehanna River Of Dreams' Author Susan Stranahan June 26  [PaEN] 

-- June 21 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- WNEP: Little Mexico Trailhead Opens In Monroe County

-- Beaver County Times: Corry Link In Erie To Pittsburgh Trail Is On Hold, Why Neighbors Don’t Want It

-- Inquirer: Appalachian Trail Hikers Are Always Hungry: Here’s Where they Like To Eat In Pennsylvania 

-- Delco.Today: Community Support Could Secure $200 Million For Trail Development In Greater Philadelphia

-- Reading Eagle: Surprises Await Schuylkill River Sojourners Around Every Bend

-- Reading Eagle: Paddlers Partake In 26th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn

-- Republican Herald Blog: Did You Know PA State Parks Are Nationally-Renowned?

-- TribLive: ‘Special’ Allegheny River Recognized As PA River Of The Year

-- Erie Times: Presque Isle Ranks High For Summer Solstice Sunrise Watching In Erie

-- MCall: Hundreds Of Teens Gathered In The Lehigh Valley For National Youth Bike Summit 

-- Warren Times: Allegheny National Forest To Offer Free Orienteering Program

[Posted: June 21, 2024]  PA Environment Digest