PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Pennsylvania Commonwealth’s Office of Outdoor Recreation has joined the Confluence of States, a national coalition working to grow the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy.
Pennsylvania’s outdoor economy contributes $17 billion to the state’s overall economy and supports more than 164,000 jobs.
Governor Josh Shapiro has long been invested in outdoor recreation launching the Office of Outdoor Recreation and the Outdoor Business Alliance within the past year.
“We are thrilled to join the Confluence and look forward to continuing our push to grow our outdoor economy and harness its power for economic and workforce development, public health, and conservation,” Pennsylvania Director of Outdoor Recreation Nathan Reigner said.
Pennsylvania joined the Confluence in May, by signing the Confluence Accords. Developed in 2018 to promote the best practices to sustainably grow their outdoor recreation economies, the accords contain five pillars: conservation and stewardship; education and workforce training; economic development; public health and wellness; and opportunity and experience.
“Pennsylvania’s formal commitment to the Confluence of States is testament to the groundswell of support for outdoor recreation as a driver of resilient state economies, connector of communities, and boon to public health,” said Chris Perkins, the vice president of programs at Outdoor Recreation Roundtable.
Pennsylvania is home to 124 state parks, 2.2 million acres of state forestland and more than 12,000 miles of trails.
“Pennsylvania has some of the most beautiful natural resources in the nation and it is increasingly important that we see them as assets for building up Commonwealth communities through the health and wellness opportunities they provide, as well as the economic benefits,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said.
With Pennsylvania joining, the total number of states in the Confluence is now at 18.
