The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has invited the public to provide feedback on the draft of the 2025-2029 Pennsylvania Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).
According to an article by the Times Leader, the comment period runs from February 3 through March 3, allowing individuals to share their thoughts via an online public input form available on the DCNR website.
During this period, a series of webinars focusing on the plan’s five priority areas will also be held to encourage public engagement.
DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn emphasized the importance of the plan, stating, “This plan is critical for the future of outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania, and I encourage those interested to share perspectives to help us design more people-focused initiatives for the future.”
“Outdoor recreation delivers huge benefits for all of us—from driving local economies to helping us lead healthy, active lifestyles. We all need outdoor recreation in our lives, and this plan makes recommendations on how we can make it accessible to everyone,” Cindy added.
The priority areas of the five-year plan include promoting community and economic development, advancing health and wellness, supporting equity and inclusion, addressing infrastructure and maintenance, and progressing on sustainability and climate change.
The webinars, each scheduled from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., have been conducted for the priority areas of Promoting Community and Economic Development on February 3, Advancing Health and Wellness on February 5, Supporting Equity and Inclusion on February 10, and Addressing Infrastructure and Maintenance on February 12.
The final session, which is focused on Progressing on Sustainability and Climate Change, is scheduled for February 19. States are required to develop a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan every five years to guide policies, programs, and investments, ensuring eligibility for federal funding.
SCORP allows Pennsylvania to qualify for federal grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has provided more than $216 million to support outdoor projects since 1965.
Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry significantly impacts the state’s economy, contributing $19 billion, accounting for 2% of the Commonwealth’s GDP, and supporting over 68,000 jobs that generate $9 billion in wages and salaries.
The public’s input on SCORP will help shape future outdoor recreation initiatives, ensuring continued economic growth, enhanced public health, and sustainable access to natural resources for all residents and visitors.