A Recreation Plan for the State Parks and State Forests in the Pennsylvania Wilds Prepared for the Pennsylvania FERMATA Department of Conservation Prepared by Fermata, Inc. and Natural Resources February 2006 of Austin, Texas Table of Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction......................................................................................................................................................1 Preface.................................................................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................................................2 History of the Project............................................................................................................................................................................3 Elk Scenic Drive ...............................................................................................................................................................................3 Sinnemahoning Incubator ................................................................................................................................................................3 Cherry Springs Early Implementation Plan ......................................................................................................................................4 Pine Creek Early Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................................4 Lumber Heritage Region Interpretive Plan.......................................................................................................................................5 DCNR Pennsylvania Wilds Recreational Strategy...............................................................................................................................5 Chapter 2 – General Findings ............................................................................................................................................7 Chapter 3 – Resources .....................................................................................................................................................10 Inventory ............................................................................................................................................................................................10 General Resource Overview for the Pennsylvania Wilds...................................................................................................................11 Geologic History.............................................................................................................................................................................11 Recreation Assets..........................................................................................................................................................................12 Natural Assets................................................................................................................................................................................17 Staffing...........................................................................................................................................................................................18 Applied Site Assessment Protocol (ASAP) ........................................................................................................................................19 The Protocol...................................................................................................................................................................................19 ASAP Resource Categories...........................................................................................................................................................20 The Assessment Process in the Wilds...........................................................................................................................................21 The Sites Assessed .......................................................................................................................................................................23 Chapter 4 – Recreation Markets.......................................................................................................................................28 Executive Summary ...........................................................................................................................................................................28 Outdoor Recreation Market Segmentation.........................................................................................................................................29 Findings .............................................................................................................................................................................................31 Summary of Activity Markets and Population Segments ...................................................................................................................33 Chapter 5 - Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................35 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................35 Resources......................................................................................................................................................................................36 Recreations....................................................................................................................................................................................36 Legacy Recreations (Hunting and Fishing) ....................................................................................................................................37 Communications ............................................................................................................................................................................37 Staff................................................................................................................................................................................................38 Programming..................................................................................................................................................................................38 Infrastructure..................................................................................................................................................................................39 Suggestions for Setting Priorities.......................................................................................................................................................39 Broad Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................................................40 Recreation Staff .............................................................................................................................................................................41 Team Concept .........................................................................................................................................................................41 Wilds Recreation Team ...........................................................................................................................................................42 Recreation Unit Teams............................................................................................................................................................42 Staff Recommendations ..........................................................................................................................................................43 DCNR Recreation Leader........................................................................................................................................................44 Bureau Recreation Planners ...................................................................................................................................................44 Unit Recreation Planners.........................................................................................................................................................44 Outreach Staff .........................................................................................................................................................................44 Trail Maintenance Crew...........................................................................................................................................................45 Interpretation..................................................................................................................................................................................45 DCNR Conservation Panels ....................................................................................................................................................46