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PA Environmental Council: Protect Investment In Outdoor Recreation And Public Lands

On November 16, the PA Environmental Council wrote to members of the Senate and House urging them to oppose any budget proposals that seek to undermine funding dedicated to supporting local, community-driven recreation and environmental conservation projects.

“One idea that has been proposed is to divert revenues from several Special Funds, including the Environmental Stewardship (“Growing Greener”) and Keystone Funds.

“We understand the financial challenges facing our state, but diverting revenues from these Funds will imperil jobs and projects that underpin our state’s growing recreational economy.

“At a time when access to recreational amenities and public lands has been one of the few respites for Pennsylvanians during the Covid pandemic, this proposal is particularly problematic.

“Our recreational economy supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the state and generates vital revenues for communities.

“Every state dollar has been shown to leverage more than its equal in private investment. Jobs supported by the Keystone and Environmental Stewardship Funds support a range of professions and businesses – from bike shops and fishing outfitters to engineers and landscape architects to contractors and equipment operators.

“The projects supported by these funds aren’t superfluous; diverting revenues will only result in economic opportunities lost at a time when they’re needed most.”

The text of the letter follows--

Dear Members of the General Assembly:

This week the legislature is tasked with the difficult job of finishing the state budget through the remainder of the fiscal year. One idea that has been proposed is to divert revenues from several Special Funds, including the Environmental Stewardship (“Growing Greener”) and Keystone Funds.

We understand the financial challenges facing our state, but diverting revenues from these Funds will imperil jobs and projects that underpin our state’s growing recreational economy.

At a time when access to recreational amenities and public lands has been one of the few respites for Pennsylvanians during the Covid pandemic, this proposal is particularly problematic.

Since March, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) has been measuring the significant (in some areas more than two-fold) increase in trail use, and what it has meant to the public and those that work to build and maintain those amenities.

The results are posted on our website, which you can find here. These findings mirror broader public sentiment about the importance of these resources.

For example, here are just a few of the articles and opinion pieces on this phenomenon:

Philadelphia Inquirer

Tribune Review

WESA Public Radio

Pennsylvania Capital Star

The good news is that these amenities provide an outlet for people during the pandemic, while also benefiting businesses and service providers who are part of our $29 billion recreational economy.

The bad news is that these resources were already under considerable strain in terms of capacity and upkeep, and will be even more vulnerable without ongoing support.

Diverting revenues is counterproductive on several fronts.

Our recreational economy supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the state and generates vital revenues for communities.

Every state dollar has been shown to leverage more than its equal in private investment. Jobs supported by the Keystone and Environmental Stewardship Funds support a range of professions and businesses – from bike shops and fishing outfitters to engineers and landscape architects to contractors and equipment operators.

The projects supported by these funds aren’t superfluous; diverting revenues will only result in economic opportunities lost at a time when they’re needed most.

Our public lands and trails are assets that will be in place and available for citizens and communities for generations to come. They are an investment that pay dividends every day and benefit all Pennsylvanians.

PEC urges you to oppose any budget proposal that seeks to undermine these critical programs.

Thank you for your consideration.

John Walliser

Senior Vice President, Legal & Government Affairs

Pennsylvania Environmental Council

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, PEC Bill/Regulation Tracker, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on Facebook. Visit PEC’s Audio Room for the latest podcasts. Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.

Related Articles This Week:

-- $201,977,000 Diverted From Environment, Energy Funds To Balance Fy 2020-21 State Budget

-- Hundreds Of Thousands Oppose Cuts In Local Recreation, Conservation Project Funding

-- Growing Greener Coalition: 93% Of Pennsylvanians Say We Have A Moral Obligation To Care For Our Environment - Don’t Cut Dedicated Funding

-- Growing Greener Coalition Urges General Assembly, Governor To Reject Any Budget Proposal That Undermines Dedicated Funding For Community-Driven Conservation Projects

-- 13 Hunting, Angler Groups Urge Senate, House Members, Gov. Wolf To Maintain Local Conservation Project Funding Critical To Stewardship Of Wildlife Resources, Public Lands

-- Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership: 3 Reasons PA Officials Should Not Drain Conservation Funds To Balance The Budget - Act Now

-- PA Federation Of Sportsmen & Conservationists: Protect Dedicated State Funds Critical To Improve Habitat, Protect Wildlife In PA

-- CBF: Raiding Dedicated Conservation Funds To Plug The State's Budget Gap Would Further Damage PA's Environment

-- Op-Ed: Protect Our Investment In Outdoor Recreation - PA Environmental Council

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Opposes Any Effort To Cut Dedicated Funds To Support State Park, Forest, Recreation Projects

-- Op-Ed: Protecting Critical Funding For Outdoor Recreation - PA Parks & Forests Foundation