Pa.'s outdoor recreation plan judged best in the nation

Pennsylvania's five-year Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan which aims to get more people outside more often has been judged best in the nation by the National Association for Recreation Resource Planners.

The state's plan, released in November 2009, identified specific recreation goals, such as better access to walking and biking trails, for a population that surveys show is spending less time outdoors and is increasingly sedentary.

The state plan aligns closely with the federal government's America's Great Outdoors Initiative, which promotes conservation, recreation and outdoor connections.

States are required to update and submit outdoor recreation plans to the U.S. Department of Interior every five years to be eligible for federal funding for their recreation programs.

First published on June 4, 2011 at 12:03 am