Pennsylvania's Recreation Plan 2004-2008 Table of Contents
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Pennsylvania’sPennsylvania’s RecreationRecreation PlanPlan 2004-20082004-2008 Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan 2004-2008 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Edward G. Rendell, Governor Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Michael DiBerardinis, Secretary Richard D. Sprenkle Deputy Secretary for Conservation and Engineering Services Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Larry G. Williamson, Director April 2004 i The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Would like to thank the citizens of Pennsylvania, federal, state and local agencies and private and non-profit organizations for their assistance in the development of Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan 2004-2008 Interagency Recreation Planning and Greenways Advisory Committee Pennsylvania Department of Aging Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Sandra Robison, Director Bureau of Farmland Preservation Rob Davidson Bureau of Farmland Preservation Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Neil R. Kinsey, Local Government Policy Specialist Center for Local Government Services Courtney Carlson Tourism Marketing Pennsylvania Department of Education Patricia Vathis, Environmental Education Advisor Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Julia Anastasio, Director Policy Office Pennsylvania Fish And Boat Commission Tom Ford, Resources Planning Coordinator Pennsylvania Game Commission Thomas Wylie Executive Office Pennsylvania Department of Health Leslie Best, Director Bureau of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Lisa Bailey-Davis Bureau of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention ii Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Susan Zacher Historic Preservation Supervisor Bureau of Historic Preservation Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Pennsylvania Utility Commission Stanley Brown David Salapa Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Dante Accurti, Manager Transportation Enhancements and Greenways Pennsylvania Department of General Services Erin M. Murphy Assistant Director Bureau of Real Estate Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Meredith Hill Office of Policy Andy Evans Bureau of State Parks Dan Devlin/Matt Beaver Bureau of Forestry Charles Trovel Bureau of Facility Design Kristen Reinertsen Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey Vanyla Tierney Bureau of Recreation and Conservation iii PENNSYLVANIA'S RECREATION PLAN 2004-2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION A. What is Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan B. Why Does Pennsylvania Develop a Statewide Recreation Plan C. Land and Water Conservation Fund D. Overview of Statewide Recreation Planning Within the Commonwealth CHAPTER 1 A Vision for the Future A. Introduction 1. Funding 2. New Agency 3. Pennsylvania Greenways: An Action Plan for Creating Connections B. Planning Process and Public Participation 1. Regional Stakeholders Public Participation Workshops 2. Pennsylvania Recreation Needs Survey 3. Pennsylvania Participation Survey 4. Shaping a Sustainable Pennsylvania – DCNR’s Blueprint for Action 5. State Forest Resource Management Plan 6. Pennsylvania Heritage Tourism Development Plan 7. Pennsylvania Comprehensive Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan 8. Pennsylvania’s Wildlife and Wild Places – Our Outdoor Heritage in Peril 9. Back to Prosperity: A Competitive Agenda for Renewing Pennsylvania C. New Trends and Directions for the Future CHAPTER 2 The Benefits and Scope of Recreation in Today’s World A. Introduction B. An Overview of Recreation-Related Community Initiatives 1. Land use Planning 2. Smart Growth 3. Sustainable Development 4. Watershed Protection 5. Environmental Stewardship C. Open Space Conservation 1. Green Infrastructure 2. Biodiversity D. Greenways E. Tourism F. Public Health 1. Physical Benefits 2. Psychological Benefits iv CHAPTER 3 Recreation Participation A. Introduction B. Leisure, Physical and General Outdoor Activities C. Participation in Outdoor Recreation, General Measures D. Participation in Specific Recreation Activities E. Most Popular Activities by Demographic Group F. Trends in Outdoor Recreation Participation, 1990-2003 G. Comparing Outdoor Recreation Participation in Pennsylvania to the United States H. Per Participant and Per Capita Activity Days I. Per Capita Activity Days by Demographic Groups J. Outdoor Recreation Spending in Pennsylvania CHAPTER 4 Recreation Needs Analysis A. Pennsylvania Recreation Needs B. Overview of Major Recreation Trends: 1980-2003 C. Participation in Recreation D. Barriers to Recreation E. Use of the Internet F. Recreation Needs and Activities G. Program Needs H. Needs of Special Citizens I. Importance of Recreation J. Attitudes Towards to Recreation K. Recreation Funding L. Regional Differences M. Differences Between Nonwhite and White Racial Groups CHAPTER 5 Issues and Findings A. Department of Community and Economic Development B. Department of Transportation C. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission D. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission E. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources F. Regional Stakeholders Meeting CHAPTER 6 Priorities for Future CHAPTERS 7 Action Plan A. Priority I: Funding B. Priority 2: Create More Healthy and Livable Communities C. Priority 3: Build Capacity v APPENDICES Appendix 1 Wetlands Plan Appendix 2 Stakeholders Meetings Appendix 3 History of LWCF Funding in Pennsylvania Appendix 4 Data Tables from Participation Study Appendix 5 Data Tables for Needs Survey Appendix 6 Shaping A Sustainable Pennsylvania – DCNR’s Blueprint For Action Appendix 7 DCNR White Papers RESOURCES Resource 1 State Forest Resource Management Plan – Recreation Section Resource 2 Pennsylvania Greenways: An Action Plan For Creating Connections Resource 3 Regional Stakeholders Public Participation Workshops Resource 4 Nature-Based Tourism Policy Resource 5 Pennsylvania Heritage Tourism Development Plan Resource 6 Pennsylvania Comprehensive Nutrition And Physical Activity Plan Resource 7 Pennsylvania’s Wildlife And Wild Places – Our Outdoor Heritage in Peril Resource 8 Back to Prosperity: A Competitive Agenda for Renewing Pennsylvania Resource 9 A New Vision for Hiking/Foot Trails in Pennsylvania vi IntroductionIntroduction INTRODUCTION What is Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan Pennsylvania’s Recreation Plan provides a vision for the future of recreation. As a result of extensive research and public participation it reflects the concerns of its citizens and the strategies for implementation as detailed by providers of park and recreation services throughout the state. • It serves as the Commonwealth’s official policy document for identifying recreational issues, needs, policies and capital investment priorities. • It is a guide for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation and protection of resources and provision of recreation opportunities and services to the state’s citizens and visitors. • It provides a framework for ensuring the protection of Pennsylvania’s highly valued cultural and natural resources, and enhancing existing recreational opportunities within the Commonwealth. Why Does Pennsylvania Develop A Statewide Recreation Plan The primary reason that the state has developed a statewide recreation plan is because it is necessary to have priorities and strategies to help meet the recreational needs of its citizens, a thorough understanding of the trends and issues, stakeholders participate in the development of the priorities and strategies so they are aware of what is needed to reach the desired goals. The state also develops a statewide recreation plan to ensure that Pennsylvania remains eligible to receive federal Land and Water Conservation Funds. Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund In 1958, increasing consciousness of public health and environmental issues and an expanding need for recreational space combined into a bipartisan mandate creating the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission (ORRRC). After three years of research, the Commission developed specific recommendations for a national recreation program. The ORRRC report of 1961 emphasized that State and local, as well as Federal, governments and the private sector were key elements in the total effort to make outdoor recreation opportunities available. The Commission's major recommendations were: 1) The United States should establish a national recreation policy to preserve, develop and make accessible to all Americans the resources needed "for 1 individual enjoyment and to assure the physical, cultural, and spiritual benefits of outdoor recreation." 2) All agencies administering outdoor recreation resources--public and private-- should adopt programs designed to make the best possible use of available resources in light of people's needs. 3) Each State, through a central agency, should develop a long-range plan for outdoor recreation, to provide adequate opportunities for the public, to acquire additional areas where necessary, and to preserve outstanding natural sites. 4) An independent Bureau of Outdoor Recreation should be established in the Interior Department to lead nationwide efforts by coordinating Federal programs, conducting nationwide planning and assisting other levels of government. 5) A Federal funding program should be established to provide grants to States that would stimulate and assist them to meet new demands for outdoor recreation and to pay for additions to the Federal recreation estate. Largely as a result of ORRRC's work, legislation was proposed that would establish a "Land and Water Conservation