CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is hoping the outdoors can help Pennsylvania bring in the green.
His administration has launched a new Office of Outdoor Recreation that will focus on growing the state economy by focusing on getting people into Pennsylvania’s parks, rivers and trails. Shapiro announced the new office during an appearance in Connellsville, Fayette County this week.
“Pennsylvania is full of great parks and outdoor places like this, but we wanted to be specifically here in Connellsville because this is a great example of how it all comes together — how outdoor recreation can lift up a community, create jobs and economic opportunity.”
The office, Shapiro says, will grow the state's outdoor recreation sector, which currently accounts for 152,000 jobs and generates $14 billion for its economy. He adds the 2023-24 state budget includes $112 million for state parks and forests — an investment he called "the largest in decades."
A 50-member advisory group will help create recommendations and actions for the new office.
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“The outdoors are so important to our family, to me, to Pennsylvanians, and we’re just psyched to be able to support it,” said Shapiro.
The governor says he hopes the new office and the activity it generates can also help bring people together during a time when we are so divided.
“I think outdoor recreation is an opportunity to depolarize our society, get people to talk again and work together again,” Shapiro said. “So not only are these investments important to create jobs and economic opportunity, and health and wellbeing, it's also just a great way to get people to talk again, to engage again, to work again. I just want more Pennsylvanians to have that opportunity.”