My name is Sarah.
Growing up, my family couldn’t afford to go to the movies or out to dinner. We didn’t go bowling or take weekend trips to the shore. Luckily, the parks were free and allowed us to have enjoyable, safe, and informative recreational experiences in the great outdoors. I can’t tell you how many weekends were brightened by a trip to Child’s in the summertime, or skipping stones on the banks of the Delaware while my sister chased minnows.
This time outside — learning, exploring, and having fun with my family — helped me grow into the person I am today.
Now, I work with the Sierra Club and help hundreds of people create their own unique relationships to the outdoors in the Delaware River Watershed.
Unfortunately, proposed changes to the Delaware Water Gap, including new user fees, means that less families will have experiences like this — experiences that help foster a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and our public lands.
These changes and fees would include:
- an entrance fee for all park users;
- a reservation and fee system for river campsite use;
- metered parking at various high density locations;
- and transitioning one of the two visitor centers to be run by a concessionaire.
Introducing people to the outdoors is the first step to protecting our outdoor spaces. Unfortunately, lack of proximity to outdoors spaces, limited access to transportation, lack of physical accessibility, and poverty all prevent people from fully enjoying the outdoors.
Additional barriers to the outdoors, like some of these proposed changes, would discourage new users from becoming repeat visitors and future stewards of the watershed.
Thank you for speaking out,
Sarah Corcoran
Forest Watch Coordinator
Sierra Club PA Chapter
P.S. For more comprehensive information, read the complete plan here.