DCNR Private Partnerships to Provide Recreational Activities

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HCO3023 By Ellis. Allows the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to enter in public-private partnerships to provide additional recreational activities in Pennsylvania state parks.

* April 4, 2016 02:24 PM
* Rep. Brian Ellis
* Co-sponsorship: Allow DCNR to enter in public-private partnerships to
* provide additional recreational activities in PA state parks
* We are planning to introduce legislation that will allow the Department
* of Conservation and Natural Resources to enter in public-private
* partnerships to provide additional recreational activities in
* Pennsylvania state parks.
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* Our state park system is recognized as one of the finest in the
* nations, with residents and visitors able to access 121 state parks
* across the state consisting of more than 300,000 acres. From our
* newest state park, Washington Crossing in Bucks County, to our most
* visited, Presque Isle on Lake Erie with 4 million annual visitors, we
* offer outdoor activities of all kinds.
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* However, we lag behind neighboring states in not providing a variety
* of modern and improved lodging and recreational opportunities. West
* Virginia, for example, has a number of state parks with sizeable
* lodging facilities, conference centers and golfing. Ohio has similar
* facilities at nine of its state parks. Pennsylvania, however, has one
* small bed and breakfast-type lodge at Bald Eagle State Park.
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* Our legislation would establish a PPP board whose job would be to
* conduct an inventory of current state park assets and issue
* recommendations where additional recreational facilities would serve
* the public interest. It would accept and solicit private sector offers
* to develop those facilities, and subsequently recommend to the
* department any appropriate PPP projects that fit the natural beauty of
* our parks and at the same time accommodate consumer demand for a
* variety of natural and modern recreational activities.