PEC sent the following letter to Members of the Senate Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee on June 21, 2023:
Dear Senators:
On behalf of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), I am writing to express our strong support for Senate Bill 507 which is scheduled for consideration by the Committee tomorrow. This legislation amends the Recreational Use of Land and Water Act to provide protections to volunteers and volunteer organizations that maintain, improve, or otherwise provide access to land for recreational purposes.
Public lands and recreational amenities have witnessed an extraordinary surge in use. PEC has performed a series of reports on this growth, underscoring the extraordinary efforts of local organizations and individuals who develop and maintain these resources. The benefits are clear – these resources provide free and accessible opportunities to citizens of our Commonwealth and help drive the tourism, business, and community growth that centers our state’s expanding recreational economy.
PEC’s Public Lands Rides and partnership in the NEPA Outdoor Challenge are just two examples of how our project work is bolstered by these public resources and the terrific partners who help provide them. We urge the Committee to advance this bill.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
John