How do Pennsylvanians Value & Use the Great Outdoors? Survey Says…

1. How do Pennsylvanians Value & Use the Great Outdoors? Survey Says…

2. Session Highlights • Introductions – what would you like to know? • Why a state outdoor recreation plan? • Planning process – lessons learned • 2014-2018 themes • Demographic trends • Survey says… • You tell us…

3. Why a State Plan? • Elevate the importance of statewide outdoor recreation planning • DCNR program priorities • Capture trends • Governor Office approval • Interagency initiatives • “get out of your silos!” • NPS requirement Is this America’s fastest growing sport? “If anything is certain, it is that change is certain. The world we are planning for today will not exist in this form tomorrow.”

4. Pennsylvania State Outdoor Recreation Plan National Award Winning The Keystone for Healthy Living 2009-2013 www.paoutdoorrecplan.com

5. Our Approach • Get it done in 18 months • Build on 2009-2013 plan • PSU research • Guided by a STRONG interagency team • An inclusive atmosphere • Action oriented – FOCUS • Feature Promising Practices

6. Score Card 2009-2013 plan Ambitious Plan • 4 goals • 28 recommendations • 99 action items • Implementation happening on about 50% of action items • Keep track, celebrate and tell ALL

7. MANY Opportunities for Public Input • Resident Survey • 50- member Technical Advisory Committee • Webinars • Public meetings? • Three online surveys • Park/Rec Directors • Managers/elected officials • Anyone – April 1

8. Plan Website

9. Pennsylvania State Outdoor Recreation Plan 2014-2018 National Award-Winning? ?

10. 2014-2018 Plan Purpose • Continue to elevate the importance of statewide outdoor recreation planning • Review current plan/retaintop actions • Identify high priority issues, needs, policies, investments • Develop collaborative relationships • Satisfy NPS priorities • Connect PEOPLE to NATURE

11. Themes

12. Trends and Technology • Sub themes: • Technology • Changing Face of Recreation • Advances in/ • improvements to • equipment • New types of parks • Engage the FAMILY

13. Recreation Infrastructure • Sub themes: • Fix it first • Improving hunting/ fishing access/involvement • Expanding ADA accessibility • Multiple use of trails and bike-pedlanes • Promoting recreational use of and brownfield sites • Green infrastructure • Safe access and safe facilities

14. Tourism/Economic Development • Sub themes • Trail/river towns and local business development • Harnessing economic power of hunting, fishing and watchable wildlife • Broader range of rec facilities • Better interagency coordination

15. Health/Wellness • Sub themes: • Alternative transportation improvements • Adult/Childhood obesity reduction • School-based recreation • Senior center-based recreation • Creating walkable/bikeablecommunities • The healthy choice is the easy choice

16. Local Parks • Sub themes • Availability – 35% of communities have < 10 acres • Funding – 54% of agencies had budgets reduced (2010) • Building Partnerships • Building political support – nice to have vs “must have” • Changing parks – encouraging techy kids to “get outside.”

17. Research to Inform the Plan • Demographic Analysis (PA) • Synthesis of Existing Data • Pennsylvania Resident Survey • Survey of Recreation Providers • Economic Value of Local Parks: A Literature Review

18. PA Demographic Trends • Overall population is growing, but slowly (3.4%) • Faster pop. growth in east and south-central regions (urbanization/land conversion here will continue to grow) • Population decline in a number of western counties • High growth rate in Non African-American minority population (60%), particularly among youth • From 2000 to 2030, PA is projected to experience a substantial increase in the age groups 19 and under and 65 and over

20. Statewide Resident Survey • Purpose: To better understand outdoor recreation patterns and opinions regarding future recreation land conservation, facility development and management • Provides a snapshot of where Pennsylvanians “are at” with respect to outdoor recreation • A long history of using surveys to inform Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Recreation Plan

21. Questionnaire Sections/Topics • Outdoor Recreation Participation • Strategies to Promote Health and Physical Activity • Recreation Area and Facility Needs • Physical Activity in the Outdoors • Opinions About Outdoor Recreation & Conservation • Funding Priorities & Sources of information • Factors Influencing Where to Recreate in Outdoors • Benefits of Outdoor Recreation Services • 21 attitudinal ?s – agree/disagree • Demographic Characteristics

22. Survey Methods • Mail/internet survey of Pennsylvania Residents • Sample of 1,500 from each of the six DCNR planning regions • Also… 1,500 each from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh • Total sample = 12,000 residents • Currently on-going; expect close to 20% response • Today’s preliminary data: N=1,500 (un-weighted) • Data has been weighted according to regional estimates

23. Pennsylvania Resident Survey Results The results presented at the PRPS conference were preliminary. Final results will be available in May 2014. Results will be posted on: http://paoutdoorrecplan.com/ If you have questions, contact Diane Kripas at 717-772-1282 or dkripas@pa.gov. Thanks!

24. Your Turn Is there anything we should consider as we develop the next five year outdoor recreation plan for Pennsylvania?

25. “To accomplish great things, we must not act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.”