Www.dcnr.state.pa.us How do Pennsylvanians Value & Use the Great Outdoors? Survey Says…

www.dcnr.state.pa.us

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


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…


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

“If anything is certain, it is that change is certain. The world we are planning for today will not exist in this form tomorrow.”

Is this America’s fastest growing sport?


Pennsylvania State Outdoor Recreation Plan

National Award Winning

www.paoutdoorrecplan.com

The Keystone for Healthy Living

2009-2013

http://www.paoutdoorrecplan.com/


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


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


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


Plan Website


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Pennsylvania State Outdoor Recreation Plan2014-2018

National Award-Winning?


2014-2018 Plan Purpose

• Continue to elevate the importance of statewide outdoor recreation planning

• Review current plan/retain top actions• Identify high priority issues, needs,

policies, investments• Develop collaborative relationships • Satisfy NPS priorities• Connect PEOPLE to NATURE


Themes


Trends and Technology

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


Recreation InfrastructureSub themes: Fix it first Improving hunting/ fishing

access/involvement Expanding ADA accessibility Multiple use of trails and

bike-ped lanes Promoting recreational use of and

brownfield sites Green infrastructure Safe access and safe facilities


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


Health/WellnessSub themes:

Alternative transportation improvements

Adult/Childhood obesity reduction School-based recreation Senior center-based recreation Creating walkable/bikeable

communities

The healthy choice is the easy choice


Local ParksSub 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.”


Research to Inform the Plan

1. Demographic Analysis (PA)

2. Synthesis of Existing Data

3. Pennsylvania Resident Survey

4. Survey of Recreation Providers

5. Economic Value of Local Parks: A Literature Review


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


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


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


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


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 [email protected].

Thanks!




mailto:[email protected]


Your Turn

Is there anything we should consider as we develop the next five year outdoor recreation

plan for Pennsylvania?


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

Www.dcnr.state.pa.us How do Pennsylvanians Value & Use the Great Outdoors? Survey Says…

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