Pennsylvania's municipal and state parks are vital assets for our communities, economy, and quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of parks for physical health and mental well-being as citizens continue to use these valuable resources in high numbers.
We now have a chance to secure significant funding for badly needed investments in community and state parks thanks to legislation sponsored by Senator John Gordner and Representative Lynda Culver. These bills would dedicate $500 million of Pennsylvania's share of the federal American Rescue Plan for a Growing Greener III program.
It is now crunch time for our advocacy. The fate of these proposals will be decided in the next ten days as the General Assembly works to pass budget and other funding bills for the new fiscal year that starts on July 1.
Please ask your state senator and state representative to support this vital funding to the Department Conservation and Natural Resources for investments in municipal parks, state parks, trails, and other recreation facilities.
While Pennsylvania's community and state parks have been used in record numbers, both have been chronically underfunded and have a large backlog of infrastructure needs.
Please lend your voice to our efforts to boost funding for community and state parks by urging your state senator to support this important proposal.
Click here to send a letter to your state legislators. We have included a sample letter, which we encourage you to personalize and add local context if possible.
Thank you for your help!
Sincerely,
