JERSEY SHORE – A new plan was unveiled recently for the 12-county region in Northcentral Pennsylvania known as the Pennsylvania Wilds, and Clearfield County stands to gain.
“The Pennsylvania Wilds region is rich in recreational opportunities, some overused and some virtually undiscovered,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said. “As the stewards of the park and forest lands that offer the bulk of these experiences, we have an obligation to plan for their use in order to protect the resource and offer the best outdoor experience possible to our visitors.”
A Recreation Plan for the State Parks and State Forests in the Pennsylvania Wilds outlines key findings and recommendations for improving the delivery of outdoor recreation services on DCNR lands in this region.
The overall objective of the 108-page plan, prepared by Texas-based contractor Fermata Inc., is to improve access to recreation opportunities while maintaining DCNR’s stewardship responsibilities. The planning process included:
• An inventory of the recreational assets and natural features of state parks, state forests, state gamelands, Allegheny National Forest and the major corps of engineer facilities in the region;
• An assessment of recreational experiences at key state park and state forest locations;
• An analysis of the outdoor recreation activity trends in Pennsylvania and the five surrounding states;
• Special studies of Cherry Springs State Park, Potter County, and the Pine Creek Valley;
• Public outreach and feedback through a project Web site and a series of public meetings; and
• Development of recommendations for staffing and organization, customer service and information, and infrastructure investments.
The plan recommends establishing state park and forest model and signature recreation sites for each key recreation activity identified as important to the region, including sightseeing, hiking and backpacking, wildlife viewing and photography, canoeing and kayaking and biking. It suggests that DCNR make infrastructure investments to support the model sites in order to deliver a quality recreation experience.
The investment recommendations include a gateway visitor center and accompanying nature lodge at S.B. Elliott State Park in Clearfield County; an elk watching and wildlife education center near Benezette, Elk County; a wildlife watching center and trail at Sinnemahoning State Park in Cameron and Potter counties; and improvement projects in the Pine Creek Valley, Cherry Springs State Park, Cook Forest State Park and Kinzua Bridge State Park.
The plan also recommends improving visitor services through better signage, interpretive programs, website, publications, maps, and expanded recreation programming.