Here’s how Pennsylvanians want to help state parks
DCNR releases results of survey
Since 1970, Pennsylvania has created 36 state parks totaling 81,000 additional acres, visited by 10 million more people annually.
All the while, the number of state park staff has only decreased.
That is something Pennsylvanians think should change, according to a report of public feedback taken over two years.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources set out in 2017 to collect residents’ thoughts on what should be done to improve the parks amid budgeting shortfalls and attendance booms.
This week, the state released its preliminary report on its findings, which the department will use for its forthcoming 25-year strategic plan called Penn’s Parks for All.
The park system’s last strategic plan, StateParks 2000, found that $100 million was needed to address infrastructure issues in the state parks, such as dams, trails, visitor centers and recreational facilities. Today, according to the preliminary report, it needs $500 million.
“The condition of state park facilities is deteriorating, with some facilities being shuttered, and some recreation activities no longer available — while demand for park use is higher than ever before,” this week’s report states.
The report summarizes the results of 10,000 responses to surveys conducted by Penn State in 2017 and 2018 and is available on the DCNR website.
On the funding issue, 82% of respondents believe the state should allocate more. Right now, state parks receive 0.16% of the state’s General Fund budget, which makes up about half the parks’ funding.
Respondents expressed great satisfaction with the parks’ services and facilities and reported feeling safe.
But most would like to see expanded outdoor recreation opportunities and “active adventure activities,” coupled with educational programming, and not at the expense of the parks’ natural resources.
They offered suggestions for helping protect natural and cultural resources by enlarging some park boundaries and acquiring more land to protect, and to increase professional staff by 15%.
Under the category of expanding overnight accommodations, about three-quarters of respondents said they want the parks to designate campgrounds for “wild” and “remote” experiences.
More work is needed, too, on expanding transportation access to parks from urban areas, respondents said.
Residents can comment on the preliminary report online or by mail through Dec. 31.
The department tasked park managers with holding public stakeholder meetings throughout the fall and early next year, ahead of a final report planned for summer 2020.