Untold Stories of Parks and Recreation
Geared for Success: Bike Trails of Pennsylvania
Back in the summer of ‘23, Governor Shapiro did something, and it made a huge statement to everyone in Pennsylvania. He launched the Office of Outdoor Recreation, an office, led by Director Nathan Reigner Ph.D., tasked with growing, uniting, and strenghtening Pennsylvania’s outdoor economy. And boy, did it make an impact. The creation of the office showed Gov. Shapiro’s strong belief in PA’s natural areas. In his own words, “Outdoor recreation can lift up communities, create jobs and economic opportunities. It’s also just fun.” Thanks Gov. Shapiro!
That was back in August, but what has happened since? And where does the future of PA Parks and Rec plan to go, especially considering the support of the Office of Outdoor Recreation? Well, they’ve got a roadmap for that!
But let’s give you the rundown anyway.
Put Your Money Where Your Park Is
It’s a tale as old as time. Changes are needed, upgrades need to happen, expansion is clear, and workers need a liveable pay – but without the proper investment, it’s impossible. As it turns out, the park and recreation industry is booming. In 2022 alone, the outdoor industry raised $17 billion for Pennsylvania’s Gross Domestic Product. With that amount of cheddar, there’s no denying outdoor recreation can make a huge difference.
Here’s the real scoop by numbers. PA’s outdoor recreation industry:
- Creates ~164,000 jobs
- Rings in at the 8th largest outdoor recreation economy in the country
- Accounts for 1.8% of the Commonwealth’s GDP (that is one of every $50 made in the Commonwealth is exclusively attributable to outdoor recreation!)
- Is believed to improve communities, according to 84% of 500 Pennsylvanians at stakeholder meetings.
This is what’s true: The PA outdoor recreation industry develops a fruitful monetary ecosystem through boosting outdoor businesses (clothes, gear, vehicles, etc.), enhances the image of the state to attract more visitors, and ultimately creates a community that more Pennsylvanians want to take part in – and invest their money in.
Have Stake in the Trails, Trees, and Lakes
So, PA parks and recreation brings in quite a bit of dough. Then what’s the problem? Money isn’t everything – support and backing is part of the equation too. Thus in 2022, Growing Outdoor Recreation of Pennsylvania was created to systematically develop the growth in the state, along with some important stakeholder and community member meetings.
With The Recreation Engagement Coalition as a primary stakeholder, they met to create a clear groundwork, and with their help, a mission, foundational pillars, set of Office functions, and strategic priority areas were set in stone. Within those priorities, there were some clear-cut goals:
- Organize the outdoor industry
- Develop the outdoor workforce
- Communicate the value of the outdoors
- Steer & capitalize on policy & funding for PA
- Grow local & regional capacity to take advantage of policy & funding
- Empower all to equally benefit from the outdoors in PA
- Prepare for the future
Fast forward to the present: With these goals in mind, and the power and influence of the Office of Outdoor Recreation, PA Parks and Recreation can become an unstoppable force that brings together communities and helps natural land flourish!
Look Alive and Look Ahead
The real good stuff doesn’t come from just making a plan – it’s putting that plan in action. And the Office is getting to work!
Here are some of their actions for the upcoming years:
- Develop an outdoor business/advocacy alliance to partner with the Office
- Work with partners to expand outdoor workforce recruitment and development opportunities
- Prepare an outdoor equity fund to enhance participation in the outdoor economy
- Track and analyze data, trends, and issues relevant to PA’s outdoors
- Create outdoor economy summits and biennial community-listening sessions
- Develop engagement via social and traditional media
That’s a lot – but we don’t doubt that the Office of Outdoor Recreation, with support from Governor Shapiro, can get the job done and continue pushing forward. From the words of Director Nathan Reigner himself, “We will not just create greater economic prosperity, we will improve the well-being, happiness, and sustainability of our communities.”
While the Office of Outdoor Recreation puts in the hustle, your job is to support the parks and recreation centers near you through … you’ve guessed it, just showing up! Looking to find a park that fits your interest? Needing a change in park scenery? Our Park Finder can lend a hand.
