Conservation victory should be celebrated

As the public health crisis has upended our daily lives, we’ve sought respite in the natural world.

It seems like more than ever, we’re barraged by a news cycle that’s filled with depressing stories about all the things going wrong in the world, from the divisiveness of the election to extreme weather and destruction, and of course, the pandemic.

But there’s some good news that has been under the radar but should be touted and celebrated: After years of inaction, Congress took the historic step to pass one of the largest increases in funding for our parks, forests and playgrounds in American history. And lawmakers did it with overwhelming bipartisan support in both congressional chambers.

This will be a legacy of conservation that will benefit our kids and grandkids for decades to come, and in an era of a lot of difficult news, this something we can celebrate.

The Great American Outdoors Act ensures permanent, dedicated funding to our nation’s most important conservation program — the Land and Water Conservation Fund, or LWCF.

While most Americans haven’t heard of the LWCF, it’s very likely that they’ve enjoyed a great outdoor place that’s been protected by this program. When we set out on a hike on the Appalachian Trail or sit down for a picnic in our neighborhood park, it’s often the LWCF that has helped make that possible.

For more than 50 years, the LWCF has preserved and improved federal, state and local parks and open spaces. This includes iconic sites such as Valley Forge, Gettysburg and Allegheny National Forest. But it also includes playgrounds, neighborhood ballfields and swimming pools in communities across the commonwealth.

In fact, over the years LWCF has supported projects in every single Pennsylvania county, totaling $325 million in investments going toward more than 1,200 projects statewide. That includes the Berks County Heritage Center, Stonecliffe Recreation Area and Red Bridge picnic area in Berks County.

But despite this program’s long-standing success, the fund has consistently been raided by Congress. A total of $22 billion has been diverted from the program over the years, and ongoing efforts to permanently reauthorize and fund this program had stalled.

But this year Congress delivered a historic victory for conservation efforts across the country and that will pay dividends right here in Pennsylvania: passing the Great American Outdoors Act into law. This will ensure permanent and dedicated funding for the LWCF.

The Great American Outdoors Act allocates $900 million annually for protecting public lands, as well as an additional $9.5 billion to help address the backlog of maintenance and repair needed in national parks specifically.

DCNR will prioritize funding from the LWCF using our recently completed Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan — Recreation for All. Priorities include rehabilitation of existing public parks, trails and recreation areas; developing waterway access; trail projects to close Priority Trail Gaps, and acquisition of new land for parks in high-need areas.

This victory was the culmination of years of organizing and advocating by a broad coalition of conservation, hunting, fishing, and recreation groups alongside local leaders and elected officials from both parties. Pennsylvania’s own members of Congress played a critical role in its passage, with Sen. Bob Casey and 14 out of 18 members of Pennsylvania’s House delegation — including Reps. Dan Meuser and Chrissy Houlahan —voting for the act.

And it couldn’t come at a better time. As the public health crisis has upended our daily lives, we’ve sought respite in the natural world. Whether it’s taking our families for a picnic in the local park, fishing in a quiet creek or enjoying a hike in the cool forest, we’re turning to nature more than ever.

The next time you go to one of Pennsylvania’s great outdoor places, take a moment to reflect on this incredible legacy and victory, and know that thanks to the hard work and dedication of the many people who made this happen, it will be protected for generations to come.