Still Time To Fill Out Survey On PA State Parks!

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Tuesday reminded Pennsylvanians that the online survey about planning for the future of state parks will close at the end of this month.

“We’ve already heard from more than 14,000 people about what will help improve and sustain Pennsylvania’s 121 state parks, but want to make sure everyone interested has a chance to make their voice heard,” Dunn said. “This information will help in the creation of a strategic plan to ensure the Pennsylvania state park system will remain as relevant and valuable to future generations as it has been to current and past generations.”

The public can take the “Penn’s Parks for All – Planning for the State Parks of Tomorrow” survey online. The online survey also is available in Spanish.

Survey questions include:

-- Should current outdoor recreation opportunities or experiences be changed?

-- Should park overnight accommodations be changed?

-- How should state parks be financed?

-- How can state parks best be protected?

-- Should state parks offer modern conveniences?

-- Are you satisfied with park services, facilities and activities?

Click Here to take the survey.  Click Here to watch a presentation on State Park Strategic Planning before the Joint Conservation Committee on October 16.

Bureau of State Parks officials say their goal will be to have a preliminary report, influenced by the information gathered this year, available in the fall of 2018, with a final report in 2019.

Additional engagement efforts during the planning process will include a phone survey of a statistically-significant sampling of Pennsylvanians that can be extrapolated to represent the state’s population; a targeted, online survey for minority and young adult audiences; and stakeholder input meetings to focus on specific selected topics.

Pennsylvania’s 121 state parks total almost 300,000 acres. Together with DCNR’s state forest system, they are one of the largest expanses of public lands in the eastern United States and a winner of national recognition.

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.