Pennsylvania has more than 6,000 local and state parks, and the people who manage them and run all the park activities are being honored this week. Park and Recreation Professionals Day is this Friday, and it takes thousands of them to help build strong, vibrant communities. Tonya Brown, director of parks and recreation for Mechanicsburg and president of the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, said 86% of adults in a national survey think access to the outdoors and nature is helpful, especially during stressful times, and it s important to recognize the workers who make it accessible. .
Public comments are being accepted for a proposed project in the Black Hills National Forest that would involve exploratory drilling for gold. Some safeguards have been added to the plan, but opponents still have concerns. Minnesota-based F-3 Gold has been pursuing the project in western South Dakota and wants to drill along three acres near Pactola Reservoir. .
June is National Rivers Month, and supporters are calling for greater protections of the Olympic Peninsula s rivers and landscapes. The Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in Congress would protect more than 126,000 acres as wilderness and designate 19 rivers and their tributaries as wild and scenic. The legislation has received support from local elected officials, tribes, businesses and conservation groups. .
June is National Rivers Month and a proposal in Congress would protect more of Oregon s rivers. Currently about 2% of Oregon s 110,000 miles of river are protected under the federal Wild and Scenic River Act. The River Democracy Act would add wild and scenic protections to 4,700 miles. .