In 2024, DCNR made positive strides to connect more Pennsylvanians and visitors to the amazing wealth of natural resources in the Commonwealth.
The department awarded more than $85 million in grants to conservation projects across the state to help boost recreation and community development holistically.
DCNR made the announcement for this year’s Community Conservation Partnership Program Grants in our state’s largest city, Philadelphia, to show the connection to the large urban area, which boasts many public parks and strong recreational opportunities for all ages. The School District of Philadelphia was awarded a $500,000 grant to assist with planting approximately 600 trees across 30 school campuses in environmental justice areas, while also building local tree stewardship capacity in partnership with our friends at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
Within those grants, DCNR allocated $10 million for 36 trail projects, including support for the Susquehanna River Walk Extension, which is a Top Ten Trail Gap.
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis joined DCNR staff in Pittsburgh in the summer to hold the first Outdoors for All Day in Pennsylvania.
The event showcased Point State Park and recreational offerings in the Pittsburgh area. Pennsylvania’s second-largest city is home to dozens of local and community parks, is near many major waterways and trails, and is a short drive from state park and forestland, which is why it was a great location to showcase how much nature folks have access to in western Pennsylvania. We look forward to celebrating Outdoors for All Day again in 2025 and are hopeful that more people are able to see opportunities to enjoy nature through this vital celebration and our Mosaic initiative intended to create a more inclusive environment in outdoors spaces.
We celebrated the completion of a number of inclusive playgrounds in 2024.
These include playgrounds at Ridley Creek State Park, Little Buffalo State Park, Clarion County Park, and Lower Paxton Township. These playgrounds enhance the learning and growth that occurs through unstructured play by expanding opportunities for children with mental and physical disabilities, while continuing to provide recreation opportunities to youth without disabilities. DCNR continues to support these projects on the state’s public lands and in communities.
During Hispanic Heritage Month, DCNR unveiled a new Spanish-Language Recreation Guide for the Commonwealth's 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forestlands.
The recreation guide, which was first made available in English, provides important information about Pennsylvania's public lands, including lodging and activities. The guide also includes a highway map of the Commonwealth with special icons for state parks and forests.
Alongside Governor Josh Shapiro in October, the department unveiled color-correcting viewfinders at Black Moshannon State Park and several other public lands locations increasing access outdoor users who are colorblind.
For the first time, many visitors will be able to see Pennsylvania’s amazing fall foliage at the following locations:
- Bald Eagle State Park, Centre County
- Black Moshannon State Park, Centre County
- Colton Point State Park, Tioga County
- Cook Forest State Park, Clarion County
- Hyner View State Park, Clinton County
- Kettle Creek State Park, Clinton County
- Little Pine State Park, Lycoming County
- Leonard Harrison State Park, Tioga County
- Sinnemahoning State Park, Cameron and Potter counties
- Tiadaghton State Forest in Lycoming County
DCNR further strengthened its partnership with the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to launch additional recovery hikes across Pennsylvania. DDAP and DCNR have identified a corresponding trail or waterway near each regional recovery hub.
Through strong partnerships, DCNR helped close two of Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Trail Gaps, along the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail with the opening of the Brady Tunnel and completion of the Kiski Junction project.
These projects connect existing sections of trail but are unique due to the needs for significant funding, infrastructure, and/or assistance from multiple state agencies. Trails are critical to boosting recreation access in the Commonwealth, and we are eager to continue to connect folks with nature.