Thank you to the Senate and sponsor Senator Pippy for passage of Resolution 143.  This directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to undertake an economic impact analysis of PA Water Trails. 

Recreational trails have a huge and measurable impact on local communities and they contribute substantially to Pennsylvania’s tourism industry, which is the 2^nd largest industry in the Commonwealth. We have a variety of very good examples of economic impact studies and trail user surveys that estimate the impact of land trails on local communities. The Great Allegheny Passage, for example, is estimated to have a $40 million annual direct spending and $7.5 million additional in wages attributable to the trail market in trail towns along the trail. We do not, however, have any examples of the economic impact of water trails on local communities yet we know that there are water trail users out there and communities who are engaging in water trail development.

Undertaking this analysis is one of the key recommendations of the recently completed Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (2009-2013) to "Conduct an economic impact analysis to benchmark the economic impact of water trails." This information will inform public and private efforts to increase water trail development in the Commonwealth and to maintain the Commonwealth’s position as a recognized national leader in water trail development.

An economic impact analysis of recreational water trails on local communities will help to guide the future of the PA Water Trails Program, which the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) manages with the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, the PA Fish & Boat Commission and the National Park Service, and future investments in water trails and local communities.