The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is seeking public feedback to help shape the 2025-2029 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).
On January 31, DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that a series of five webinars will begin February 3, offering a platform for residents to provide input on improving outdoor recreation opportunities across the state.
The public comment period runs from February 3 through March 3. Citizens can share their perspectives through an online form available on the DCNR website. The webinars will focus on five key priority areas, including community development, health, equity, infrastructure, and sustainability.
“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,” Secretary Dunn stated.
She highlighted outdoor recreation’s role in supporting local economies and promoting active lifestyles.
The webinar series will begin with “Promoting Community and Economic Development” on February 3. Subsequent sessions will address health and wellness, equity and inclusion, infrastructure maintenance, and sustainability in outdoor spaces.
Each webinar runs from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. and is open to the public with registration links available online.
The draft plan reflects input gathered through multiple surveys, including a Penn State Lion Poll and responses from over 8,000 Pennsylvanians.
Pennsylvania has received over $216 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund since 1965, supporting projects such as parks, wildlife habitat preservation, and public access to recreation.
The current SCORP, covering 2020 to 2024, focused on 20 recommendations and 70 action steps aimed at meeting the state’s diverse outdoor recreation needs.
Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry contributes $19 billion to the state’s economy, representing 2 % of its GDP. It supports more than 68,000 jobs, generating $9 billion in wages and salaries, according to DCNR data.