Pennsylvania’s new Office of Outdoor Recreation is the state’s single largest investment in parks and forests in decades to the tune of $112 million in the FY23-24 budget. The office is the 20th State Office of Outdoor Recreation (OREC) created across the United States.

Outdoor recreation generates $13.6 billion for the Commonwealth’s economy, is 1.6% of its GDP, and creates 151,531 jobs, making it the largest state by both population and outdoor recreation economy size to create an OREC. Dr. Nathan Reigner, the current Pennsylvania director of outdoor recreation, will continue as director of the new office and work to leverage Pennsylvania’s myriad outdoor recreation assets with stakeholder groups from anglers and hunters to hikers and mountain bikers, and more to continue to build and improve the state’s outdoor recreation economy.