HARRISBURG – The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is forming a new Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee to assist efforts to build a statewide network of land and water trails, DCNR Secretary Richard Allan announced.
DCNR is accepting nominations for 14 appointments to the committee until Feb. 21.
“Our nationally-honored Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan recommended we create a statewide trails committee to help implement recommendations from the plan related to a trail network as a way to facilitate outdoor recreation, provide alternative transportation routes and encourage healthy lifestyles,” Allan said. “This new committee helps us in our efforts to make that plan a reality.”
The committee’s creation also fulfills some requirements for federal funding programs.
After a year of planning and deliberations with trail stakeholders across the state, it was determined that the Pennsylvania Recreational Trails Advisory Board, in existence since 1992, would be expanded and the name changed to the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee.
The Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee will consist of up to 20 members appointed by DCNR. Members will represent different types of trail users, builders and advocates, and people with disabilities.
The committee’s responsibilities will include advising DCNR on the use of federal trails funding in Pennsylvania, reviewing and ranking trail project applications and presenting an annual report to the secretary on the accomplishments of the preceding federal fiscal year.
Nominations are now being accepted for appointees representing the following trail-user organizations: mountain biking; snowmobiling; all-terrain vehicle riding; water trail users; people with disabilities; trail advocates; trail builders; trail planners; an educator or trainer related to trails; trail walkers and four at-large members.
Nominations must be submitted to DCNR by Feb. 21. Appointees will serve for three consecutive years.
To obtain a nomination form, visit: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/recreation/trails/index.htm and choose “Nomination Form,” call 717-787-7672 or email roprunty@pa.gov.
For more information about trails in Pennsylvania, visit www.explorePAtrails.com.
