House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search

House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	February 15, 2018 01:43 PM
From:	Representative Mary Jo Daley
To:	All House members
Subject:	Resolution – “Public Lands Day” in Pennsylvania

In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution designating September 22, 2018, as “Public Lands Day” in Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth’s public lands are a vital shared resource for all Pennsylvanians to enjoy. The various parks, forests, waterways, game lands, wildlife refuges, and other public lands throughout the Commonwealth are the gateway to an outdoor recreation industry that annually contributes more than $25 billion dollars to Pennsylvania’s economy. Exposure to nature also has both long-term and short-term mental and physical health benefits. The Commonwealth’s system of 121 state parks is overseen and managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). DCNR also manages 2.2 million acres of state forests in 48 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. These state forests, along with our state parks, provide recreational opportunities, aesthetic beauty, plant and animal habitat, and environmentally sound resource management. In addition, at the federal level, the National Park Service operates 19 national parks in Pennsylvania, many of which highlight the state’s unparalleled historical and cultural heritage. National Public Lands Day was started in 1994 and is celebrated on the fourth Saturday in September. On that day, all national parks offer free admission, and individuals are encouraged to volunteer at the parks. The volunteer effort is coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation and is the largest such event on public lands. Please join me as a co-sponsor of this resolution recognizing the importance of public lands to Pennsylvania.

---