By Kate McMahon, AICP

In 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) adopted Penn’s Parks for All: A Plan for Pennsylvania’s State Parks for Tomorrow. Penn’s Parks for All was developed as a strategic plan to help guide Pennsylvania’s state park professionals in caring for the state parks across the Commonwealth. The overall goal of the plan is to guide state park improvements that meet the public’s needs, while sustaining and improving the parks’ natural and cultural attributes. To meet that goal, Penn’s Parks for All incorporates 87 strategies in four categories: Outdoor Recreation Opportunities, Overnight Accommodations, Services and Facilities, and Paying for State Parks.

The Penn’s Parks for All development occurred during and after the COVID-19 pandemic when park usage was at an all-time high. The strategic planning process included significant input from the park users, stakeholders, subject-matter experts, elected officials and parks staff. The plan aims to serve as a blueprint for moving state parks forward in the years to come. To learn more about Penn’s Parks for All, visit DCNR’s website.