The Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission is asking residents, visitors and outdoor recreation users to participate in a short public survey aimed at shaping the future of the region’s outdoor recreation economy.

The survey will help gather information for the Northwest Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Economy Study and Toolkit, a multi-phase project designed to guide future planning, investment and collaboration across the region. Public input will play a key role in understanding how people use outdoor spaces, which assets they value most and how outdoor recreation can better support local and regional economies.

The study covers the eight counties of Erie, Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango and Warren.

The survey, which takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete, is open to anyone who spends time in the region, including residents and visitors. No questions are required and responses will help identify what is working well, where gaps exist and how outdoor recreation can contribute to economic growth and tourism.

Survey questions ask participants about the outdoor activities they take part in, how often they recreate, their favorite places in Northwest PA and whether they experience challenges like limited parking, poor signage, litter, safety concerns or cost barriers. Respondents are also asked to weigh in on priorities for future investment, including trail maintenance, accessibility, new recreation opportunities, natural resource protection and support for outdoor recreation businesses.

The project is being led by the commission in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of consultants. The survey represents phase one of the project, which focuses on building an understanding of the region’s outdoor recreation economy through research, mapping, economic analysis, a public survey and a multi-day site visit.

Phase Two, scheduled for spring and summer 2026, will shift from research to action. This will include county-based focus groups, deeper economic analysis and case studies from similar regions. The goal is to produce recommendations and a practical toolkit communities can use to guide future investment.

By the end of the project, the commission aims to have a clear picture of the outdoor recreation economy and strategies that can be implemented across all communities.

The survey is available on the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission’s Facebook page and online at https://arcg.is/1Ki4Km0. The survey will close Friday, Feb. 27.