Friends of Pennsylvania's Outdoors,
Ecologists think in terms of interconnected systems: complex and subtle relationships between living things and the space they inhabit. What happens to one species inevitably affects others. Upstream events produce downstream impacts, and the consequences of disruption can be unpredictable and destructive. In nature, nothing ever happens in a vacuum.
At the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), we know that these connections extend beyond the natural world, touching the lives of millions and encompassing a $29.1 billion industry in our state alone. We also know that decisions made in Harrisburg and Washington D.C. have real consequences -- not just for the environment, but for the 251,000 Pennsylvanians directly employed in outdoor recreation, and countless others who depend on the economic activity it generates.
PEC launched the
Pennsylvania Outdoor Network earlier this year to help businesses organize, mobilize, and stay informed about policy decisions that affect their bottom line. We're pleased to offer the State of Play newsletter (already on its second issue!) as a resource to keep you up to speed on industry news, connect you with colleagues, and make your voice heard in the state capitol. Please help us grow this informal coalition by encouraging others in Pennsylvania's outdoor industry to
subscribe here.
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State
Governor's Budget Impacts Conservation & Recreation Funds
In February, Governor Wolf presented his annual budget proposal, which unfortunately included diverting money from two long-standing recreation and conservation funds (the Environmental Stewardship Fund and the Keystone Recreation, Park & Conservation Fund) to pay for general government operations.
This suggested diversion has been met with strong opposition from the recreation industry, sportsmen and women, and conservation communities. For more information on this issue and to lend your voice to ensuring that these funds are used for their intended purposes, visit the
Growing Greener Coalition website
.
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Federal
Land and Water Conservation Fund Reauthorization Passes!
In late February, Congress overwhelmingly passed S.47, now known as the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, after being signed into law by the President. Not only does this legislation reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, but it represents an extraordinary number of public land provisions. Of particular note for Pennsylvania is extension of the Lewis and Clark National Heritage Trail to Pittsburgh, the Every Kid Outdoors program, and the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps program. Passage of this law represents a tremendous bipartisan win for those who care about the outdoors.
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Report: Funding Needed for State Park & Forest Infrastructure, Maintenance
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In January, the
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) released a new report entitled
Pennsylvania’s State Parks & Forests: The Future is in Our Hands, representing the culmination of a years-long study of maintenance needs in our state parks and forests. Our state lands, which are enjoyed by more than 40 million visitors a year, currently face a $1 billion backlog in infrastructure and maintenance needs – ranging from bridges to wastewater treatment facilities, from dams to invasive plant removal, and from roads to trails.
Marci Mowery, President of PPFF, testified before the House Recreation and Tourism Committee on the report. You can watch a recording of that hearing
here. A number of recreation and conservation advocates are actively working to increase public lands funding in a renewed Growing Greener program, as well as part of the discussions now happening with Governor Wolf’s proposed
Restore PA program.
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PA Route 6 Among Newest U.S. Bicycle Routes
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The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and Adventure Cycling last year named five new U.S. Bicycle Routes, including one in the keystone state. The newly-designated
USBR 36 PA follows Pennsylvania’s Route 6, which was already designated Pennsylvania Bike Route Y.
The USBR designation brings additional exposure and opportunity. Already,
AFAR magazine featured the new routes in its
March/April issue. And earlier this month, the
PA Route 6 Alliance hosted Russ Roca of
The Path Less Pedaled to visit communities along Route 6 to present on bicycle tourism strategies that can be applied along the corridor.
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Planning the Future of PA Recreation
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How do Federal funds for the outdoors make their way to PA? And how does the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (home to State Parks and State Forests) know what they want to focus on in the near term?
Both of these questions are answered by the SCORP, or State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. The SCORP is an every-five-years planning exercise that each state must undergo to receive funding from the LWCF (we celebrated the permanent authorization of that fund last month, as mentioned above). This plan steers everything from land acquisition to the types of trail projects to what types of research is done to support outdoor recreation.
DCNR has begun the process for the next SCORP, and at the table is a who’s-who of recreation in the state. But there is a chance for you to have input on this process as well. Keep an eye out for outdoor recreation surveys from DCNR and other chances for feedback. Several committees have input as well, the next one being DCNR’s Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Committee, which will meet on March 27.
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Veterans find healing, purpose, and great fishing at Patriots Cove
Check out our Pennsylvania Legacies podcast episode on
Patriots Cove, a nonprofit that endeavors to heal both an environment and those who enjoy it. Patriots Cove brings veterans and first responders with disabilities together to trout fish along Beaver Run in Wyoming County.
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Not only this, but Patriots Cove leads a habitat restoration project to reintroduce brook trout to the waterway. As co-founder Jeff Swire says on the podcast: “We’re healing an environment and we’re healing people. And we’re also showing that people with injuries that thought they didn’t have a purpose can still do something valuable in their communities.”
Learn more by listening to the full episode
here.
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The Pennsylvania Legacies podcast features conversations with community leaders, policy experts, and Pennsylvanians on the most important environmental and conservation issues facing the Commonwealth.
New episodes are posted every other Friday at
pecpa.org/audio
and are available on most podcast platforms.
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News we noticed and thought you might want to see...
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Why not spend your weekend at a festival that is most likely older than you are? The
72nd Annual PA Maple Festival in Meyersdale, Somerset County, will be held March 30-31 and April 3-7. The long-time tradition includes a daily pancake supper, maple sugaring demonstrations, a “sit and sip” garden (bring ID), parade, and quilt show. Camping is available in the local park, where you’ll be amongst the maples and the sugar shack. While in Meyersdale, plan a hike on PA’s highest point, Mt. Davis. The observation tower is about a 20-minute drive from town. You might also walk or bike the Great Allegheny Passage. Note: the trail may be snow-covered or in a state that’s susceptible to tread damage, so tread carefully (or at least with the right tires).
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April seems to be the month of conferences and Banff screenings. Here are some upcoming happenings in and near PA:
Conferences
- Pittsburgh, April 5-7
- State College, April 12-13
- Bethlehem, April 28
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