HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is accepting comments on a draft 2025-29 Pennsylvania Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan from February 3 to March 3. 

“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,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “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.”

An online public input form is available on DCNR’s website, and webinars on the five priority areas for the 2025-2029 SCORP will be conducted during this period.

Priority areas in the five-year plan and their related webinar dates are:

• Promoting Community and Economic Development – February 3 – 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM – Register
• Advancing Health and Wellness – February 5 – 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM – Register
• Supporting Equity and Inclusion – February 10 – 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM – Register
• Addressing Infrastructure and Maintenance – February 12– 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM – Register
• Progressing on Sustainability and Climate Change – February 19 – 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM – Register

There were multiple surveys that informed the draft plan, including a Penn State Lion Poll from a web-panel survey of more than 1,000 adult Pennsylvanians, a public survey, and a recreation providers survey. One of the key findings — out of more than 8,000 responses — revealed Pennsylvanians' strong connection between outdoor recreation and mental well-being.

Every five years, states must develop a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan to guide policies, programs, and investments while remaining eligible for federal funding.

SCORP enables Pennsylvania to remain eligible for federal grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has provided more than $216 million since 1965 to fund projects including: parks and historic sites; forest, river, and wildlife habitat conservation; and access to recreation, hunting, and fishing. The 2020-24 SCORP Plan – Recreation for All – focused on 20 recommendations and 70 action steps for meeting the outdoor recreation needs of all Pennsylvanians.

Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry contributes $19 billion to the Commonwealth’s economy, represents 2 percent of its GDP, and supports more than 68,000 jobs that provide $9 billion in wages and salaries.

Visit DCNR’s website to learn more about Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Recreation Plan and check out DCNR’s Calendar of Events for happenings on public lands.