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Pennsylvania parks & forests getting $112 million this year in Governor's budget
Spotlight PA link: https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2023/09/pennsylvania-state-parks-forests-sustainability-pa-budget/
BELLEFONTE — Pennsylvania lawmakers set aside $112 million to sustain and improve state parks and forests in this year’s budget, one of the commonwealth’s most significant investments in outdoor infrastructure in decades. While officials celebrated the infusion as a “tremendous down payment” toward enhancing the experience at Pennsylvania’s 124 state parks and 20 forests, the amount represents a fraction of the estimated $1.4 billion needed to fully address a backlog.
The state’s conservation and natural resources department said it could take some time for new improvement projects to come to fruition. Though parks and forests have received some funding for improvements in the past year, rising maintenance costs have eclipsed state spending. This outpacing has left the state agency that manages more than 2 million acres of parks and forests across Pennsylvania unable to sufficiently maintain and update facilities.
Additionally, to meet sustainability goals, the department has added to its list of needs in recent years, keeping its backlog at $1.4 billion. So now, the needs list, which is maintained internally, includes $900 million in infrastructure repairs and $500 million in green energy projects.
...
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, a nonprofit, maintains a needs list for public facilities and fundraises to get them addressed. A campground and bike repair station that opened at Ohiopyle State Park last month was underwritten by a grant from the foundation and donations.
The state’s conservation and natural resources department said it could take some time for new improvement projects to come to fruition. Though parks and forests have received some funding for improvements in the past year, rising maintenance costs have eclipsed state spending. This outpacing has left the state agency that manages more than 2 million acres of parks and forests across Pennsylvania unable to sufficiently maintain and update facilities.
Additionally, to meet sustainability goals, the department has added to its list of needs in recent years, keeping its backlog at $1.4 billion. So now, the needs list, which is maintained internally, includes $900 million in infrastructure repairs and $500 million in green energy projects.
...
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, a nonprofit, maintains a needs list for public facilities and fundraises to get them addressed. A campground and bike repair station that opened at Ohiopyle State Park last month was underwritten by a grant from the foundation and donations.
- more at link -
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation website and needs lists can be viewed here: https://paparksandforests.org/support/needs-list/
