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How do Pennsylvanians Value & Use the Great Outdoors? Survey Says…
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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…
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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?
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Pennsylvania State Outdoor Recreation Plan
National Award Winning
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The Keystone for Healthy Living
2009-2013
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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
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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
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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
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Plan Website
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Pennsylvania State Outdoor Recreation Plan2014-2018
National Award-Winning?
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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
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Themes
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Trends and Technology
Sub themes:• Technology • Changing Face of Recreation• Advances in/ improvements to equipment• New types of parks• Engage the FAMILY
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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
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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
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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
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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.”
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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!
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Your Turn
Is there anything we should consider as we develop the next five year outdoor recreation
plan for Pennsylvania?
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“To accomplish great things, we must not act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.”