State Budget Briefing: 94% Of Voters Believe State Parks, State Forests Are Important To Quality Of Life In Pennsylvania; 86% Want Funding Them To Be A State Priority

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation recently circulated the results of a poll of likely voters on the importance of state parks and state forests to members of the General Assembly as they and the Governor head into the home stretch of FY 2026-27 state budget discussions.

The poll by Susquehanna Polling & Research found--

-- 94% believe state parks and forests are either “very” or “somewhat” important to quality of life and the overall state of Pennsylvania – including 85% “very” important. This strong affirmation exists regardless of whether or not respondents are regular visitors to state parks and forests.

-- 86% believe state funding for state parks and forests should be a funding priority of state government – including 50% who “strongly” agree. Agreement that state funding should be a priority is broad-based and bipartisan, including 87% of Republicans, 85% of Democrats, 86% of independent voters.

There was strong support in every region of the state to prioritize funding--

-- 72% in Northwest/Erie

-- 88% in Southwest/Pittsburgh - 80% in Pittsburgh

-- 94% in Northcentral "T" of the state

-- 87% in Northeast/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

-- 84% in Southcentral/Harrisburg

-- 85% in Southeast counties - 88% in Philadelphia

Data Center/Energy Development

Specific questions on protecting state parks and forests from data center development and new energy infrastructure found--

-- 79% of likely voters support the requirement to create a buffer or “setback” for the construction of data centers near state parks or forests to protect the natural and recreational value of these lands (such as water resources, wildlife, sound quality and dark skies) – even if it means the new buffers would increase the costs of data centers, 11% disagreed.

-- 78% of likely voters agreed new energy and/or other utility infrastructure such as towers, transmission lines and pipelines should avoid protected lands such as state parks and forests, only 10% disagreed.

Agreement on both these questions was broad based and bipartisan and includes strong majorities of voters in key demographic groups.

Click Here for a copy of the polling results.

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.

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NewsClips:

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-- PennLive: PA House Passes Bill Targeting Illegal Dirt Bikes, ATVs 

-- TribLive: Part Of Great Allegheny Passage To Close Next Month For Landslide Repairs

-- LancasterOnline: 4 Projects Getting Southcentral PA Closer To A Connected Trail System

-- Post-Gazette: The Scoop On Pennsylvania’s Ice Cream Trail

-- PA Capital-Star: E-Scooters Are Everywhere In PA, This Legislation Would Make Them Legal 

-- WVIA: Health Officials Urge Prevention During Tick Bite Spike For NE PA Residents

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Ways To Deal With A Band Year For Ticks

-- WHYY:  Federal Court Ruling Clears Way To Replace Slavery Exhibit In Philadelphia At President’s House Site, Handing President A Win

-- Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: US Senate Advances America The Beautiful Act, Aiming To Renew Critical Funding For Public Lands

-- Evangelical Environmental Network Action: US Senate Committee Advances $6.65 Billion America The Beautiful Act Funding To Fix National Parks, Restore Public Lands

[Posted: June 19, 2026]  PA Environment Digest