Friends of Pennsylvania's Outdoors,

Speaking recently to an audience of outdoor recreation professionals, author and wildlife biologist Dan O’Brien reflected on the evolving role of naturalists and science journalists amid ecological crisis: “Suddenly," he said, "the job of the nature writer was not so much to point out the beauty as to point out that beauty was under siege.”

O'Brien's remarks at the National Outdoor Recreation Conference remind us that a lot of job descriptions are changing in the face of climate change. Just as the outdoor economy relies on natural areas, the conservation of our natural areas now relies on the voices of those in the outdoor economy.

This renewed sense of responsibility figured heavily in back-to-back industry conferences held this spring – the International Trails Symposium & Training Institute and the National Outdoor Recreation Conference – where the need for environmental protection came up again and again in conversations among both entry-level and established professionals.

Other themes that emerged at these gatherings 1,500 miles apart (Syracuse, NY and Rapid City, SD) included:

  • The need for effective equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in the outdoors. We’ve known for years that outdoor recreation isn’t reaching a diverse enough audience, but we need to do more to remove barriers and encourage use.

  • The opportunity to cast a wider -- perhaps gentler -- net. Market research shows hardcore adrenaline-junkies are increasingly outnumbered by those looking for "soft adventure": think shorter bike rides, guided fishing trips, cleverly-themed hikes, and glamping and huts (rather than traditional camping) as areas for market growth.

  • The relationship between recreation and the health and vitality of communities. Trails in particular continue to be seen as spines that connect communities and serve as economic generators. At the same time, the way we define success is shifting. According to Travel Oregon’s Kristin Dahl, the goal is not just to put heads in beds (a “more, more, more” mentality), but rather to “harness the tourism economy for the benefit of communities.” 

Whatever role you play in Pennsylvania's outdoor industry, we hope these stories will help you stay informed and inspired to make a positive impact. Please help us grow this informal coalition by encouraging others in Pennsylvania's outdoor industry to subscribe here.
Low-Head Dam Safety Legislation
Legislation was recently introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly ( House Bill 1003) to provide the Fish and Boat Commission with stronger authority to enforce the safety marking of low head (“run-of-the-river”) dams. There are more than 300 of these structures across the state, which present a significant hazard to on-water recreation. The bill will be voted on by the House Game and Fisheries Committee on June 5th. 


What’s Ahead - Legislative Calendar
June is budget month in Harrisburg, and the General Assembly will soon be considering a package of bills that comprise the 2019-2020 operating budget for the state. Of interest to the outdoor community, legislation to allow both the Fish and Boat Commission ( House Bill 808) and the Game Commission ( Senate Bill 552) to set their own licensing fees to support their operations across the state are likely to be a part of budget negotiations.

Once the budget package is approved, the legislature is expected to adjourn for the summer and return in September. 
To stay current on pending legislation and policy regarding conservation and outdoor recreation, bookmark the PEC Bill Tracker and follow @pecpolicy on Twitter.
What can PA learn from how other states about promoting and supporting outdoor recreation? 
This May the Pennsylvania Environmental Council had the opportunity to host Gary Sjoquist of Quality Bicycle Products (QBP), the industry-leading supplier for more than 5000 bike shops across North America. The Minnesota-based firm employs upwards of 100 Pennsylvanians at its Lancaster warehouse, which we were invited to tour along with several members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and staff from the House Tourism committee.

Gary has a unique role at Quality, as he was the first person in the industry to be hired -- more than 20 years ago -- as a full time bicycle advocate. His decades of experience shaping policy to promote cycling and outdoor recreation have helped make Minnesota one of the leading recreation states in the nation – and we were eager to learn from that experience. In a presentation to DCNR and PennDOT staff, Gary explained how, by taking a landscape-level view of public lands and communities, his state has been able to redevelop former mining communities as tourism destinations while improving quality of life for their own residents.

Gary also shared knowledge with participants in the 2019 PA Mountain Bike Summit, where mountain bike clubs were represented alongside land conservancies, outdoor businesses, Chambers of Business, and DCNR staff. His message: with more than 3 million acres of public lands and a recreation economy already generating over $29 billion annually, Pennsylvania is poised to capitalize on opportunities that other East Coast states can only dream of – but only if groups are willing to create new partnerships and collaborate with one another on planning and promotion.
Great American Rail Trail Coming to PA
The big news in the trails world this month was the unveiling of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's preferred route for the Great American Rail Trail.

The route, linking together local and regional trails to create an eventual 3,700-mile ride from Washington State to Washington, D.C., is already 52 percent complete. The Great American will pass through western Pennsylvania by way of the Great Allegheny Passage, the Montour Trail, and the Panhandle Trail.
$5,000 Mini-Grants Available for Water Trails
Applications are now being accepted for PA Water Trails Mini-Grants of up to $5,000. All types of projects that benefit Pennsylvania’s designated water trails and are consistent with the PA Water Trail Program’s eight program principles will be considered. The grants require a 1:1 match and applications are due by July 19. The applicant does not have to be the designated water trail managing organization.

The PA Water Trail Program is managed by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council in partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the National Park Service. Learn more here or contact Lizzie Hessek at LHessek@pecpa.org or 215-545-4570.
Reminder: Survey Responses Needed for Statewide Recreation Plan
You’re invested in the outdoors, so why not take 10 minutes to complete a survey that will help the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to develop the next five-year outdoor recreation plan?

The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan is updated every five years, using survey feedback from Pennsylvania residents. The plan steers everything from land acquisition decisions to the types of trail projects are completed and what research is done in support of outdoor recreation.

Make your voice heard by taking the survey . 
"Our parks and forests are the goose that lays the golden egg... But we're starving the goose."

Pennsylvania's award-winning state parks and forests are the engine of a flourishing outdoor recreation industry, helping to generate upwards of $29 billion in economic activity each year.
But while demand for outdoor recreational assets keeps growing, state funding for park and forest infrastructure has been stagnant for decades. Unless that changes soon, a new report from the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) warns, adverse economic impacts are inevitable.

On the Pennsylvania Legacies podcast, we examine the backlog's causes and consequences in conversation with PPFF president Marci Mowery.
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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In the News
Where's Your Weekend?
It turns out that you can run before you can walk. This weekend in Northeast PA, you have your option to partake in a grueling 5K up Montage Mountain (8:30 a.m. Sunday at Montage Mountain Resort), or you can go further east for a slow-paced, meditative Community Forest Bathing experience (10:00 a.m. Sunday at the Lodge at Woodloch).

Make a weekend of either. The 5K includes free beer and free water park admission, and the forest bathing includes to option to purchase a spa day pass. If live music is more your speed, head west to Tunkhannock, PA. The 12th annual NEPA Bluegrass Festival is taking place all weekend.
Questions? Comments? Tips?Email StateOfPlay@pecpa.org