The Office of Outdoor Recreation launched the Pennsylvania Outdoor Business Alliance and Elevate initiative.
DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Director of Outdoor Recreation Nathan Reigner in a visit to Gilson Snow in Selinsgrove in March to launch the Pennsylvania Outdoor Business Alliance. The new effort intends to:
- Create opportunities for our outdoor recreation businesses to collaborate with one another;
- Develop a one-stop shop for questions related to permits, regulations; and
- Help Pennsylvania small businesses compete in the national outdoor recreation economy.
As a follow up, Pennsylvania’s Office of Outdoor Recreation launched the Elevate initiative in the fall, to help identify barriers to growth, develop workforce solutions, and highlight Pennsylvania as a premier destination for outdoor recreation and a place where related businesses can thrive.
The fourth year of the Northcentral Regional All-Terrain Vehicle Trail (NRAT) went off without major hitches in 2024.
With new connections and more mileage, more than 5,500 pilot permits were sold for NRAT -- a four percent increase from 2023. DCNR worked with Penn State to assess the economic impact of the trail. NRAT was determined to have generated $23.5 million in economic impact in 2022 and 2023.
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The Trails at Jakes Rocks took home the title of 2024 Trail of the Year.
The 35-mile natural surface trail system is located in the Allegheny National Forest in Warren County. The trails are used primarily for mountain biking, but other types of recreation such as hiking, trail running, and cross-country skiing also are permitted. A recent economic impact analysis found that the Trails at Jakes Rocks draws more than 25,000 users annually and generates an estimated $9 million in annual tourism spending.
The Allegheny River won the vote for 2024 River of the Year boosting awareness for the historic river.
The river starts as a stream in Potter County, meandering through a field of wildflowers before crossing briefly through New York and then through six counties in western Pennsylvania. The 325-mile provides an economically beneficial water trail and drinking water to more than 1 million people.
Several DCNR properties were added to the national Old-Growth Forest Network, paving the way for the public to understand the conscious conservation of mature forests.
All forests are essential to a healthy ecosystem, but old-growth forests are particularly valuable for their unique structure. They retain more carbon and nitrogen than younger forests, improving water and air quality.
The forests inducted in 2024 are:
- Square Timber Wild Area
- Erie Bluffs State Park
- Ridley Creek State Park
- Forest Dutlinger Natural Area in Susquehannock State Forest
- McKeever Tract in Clear Creek State Forest
Work continues to develop Pennsylvania’s three newest state parks for visitor enjoyment.
Vosburg Neck in Wyoming County featured trails and some amenities prior to DCNR managing the property. Staff are now working full time onsite providing educational programming for the public.
The masterplan for Susquehanna Riverlands in York County was unveiled last summer and well received by community members. Further infrastructure development and rehabilitation of historic properties at the park will continue in 2025.
Finally, the master plan process for Big Elk Creek is expected to be finalized in early 2025, paving the way for infrastructure development and additional programming. The park hosted the third annual Native Species Day and received more than 300 acres of stream buffer restoration to improve the Big Elk Creek watershed.
DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz toured water quality projects and explored opportunities for new and improved trail connections at a joint event in at Big Elk Creek State Park in Pennsylvania and Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Maryland. Our neighbor to the south also is developing its own Office of Outdoor Recreation and is poised to be a great partner for the sector along the Mason-Dixon Line.