HARRISBURG, Pa. — A recent survey by the Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation revealed that a majority of registered voters in Pennsylvania support investing in trail improvements.
The survey found that 81 percent of registered Pennsylvania voters support investing in trail improvements, including trail expansion, in state parks and state forests as important to Pennsylvania’s quality of life and economic development.
The poll revealed strong support for the importance of investing in these campaigns across party affiliation, ideology, residential location, gender, ethnicity and geographic region.
“Strong support for investing in trails coincides with people getting outdoors,” said foundation president Marcy Mowery. “Studies of statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plans consistently find that hiking and walking/running are closely competing for the first and second places in the top 10 outdoor activities.”
In addition to paved walking trails and pristine hiking trails, mountain bikers and cyclists also benefit from a robust trail system.
Trails can provide safe access to communities, improve accessibility, connect people to parks and provide safe routes to schools and workplaces.
The Shapiro Administration has proposed an $8.5 million investment in DCNR’s trail system to continue to foster and maximize Pennsylvania’s growing outdoor recreation economy.
According to DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn, these investments will:
- Ensuring that DCNR’s most popular trails in state parks and forests are sustainably designed and constructed to withstand increased traffic and severe weather.
- Ensure careful maintenance and management
- Supports accessibility improvements that advance DCNR’s mission and strategic priority of “Recreation for All.”
- Leverage outdoor recreation as a tool for economic competitiveness, business and talent acquisition
- Build capacity within DCNR to compete for and manage federal infrastructure funding that can support Pennsylvania’s trail network.
If there’s one thing Pennsylvanians can agree on, it’s that trails are a valuable investment in our health, our economy and our quality of life.
