Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Lehigh Gorge State Park in Luzerne County Wednesday to open a new park access point and highlight his budget’s proposed investments in state parks, forests, and trails in Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvania is home to some of America’s best parks, trails, and forests,” Shapiro said. “This weekend, Pennsylvanians will head outdoors with family and friends for the unofficial start of the summer season and take advantage of all the opportunities the Commonwealth’s 12,000 miles of trails and beautiful rivers and lakes have to offer.”

Shapiro said the state’s parks attract nearly 40 million visitors a year, helping the businesses and economies around them.

“My budget’s key investments will help grow our economy while creating more opportunities for Pennsylvanians to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with their friends and families,” he said.

During Wednesday’s visit, Shapiro met outdoor outfitters whose businesses have benefited from investments made in the park that follows the Lehigh River through Luzerne and Carbon counties, and partners working to complete the D&L Trail that runs through Lehigh Gorge.

“The Lehigh River provides accessible outdoor recreation for the entire tri-state area,” said Pocono Whitewater Operations Manager Sierra Fogal.

“It is a tourist destination that draws hundreds of thousands of tourists a year and provides an outdoor outlet to a diverse audience. This is only possible because of the work of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to protect and improve the state park so that it continues to thrive with increasing numbers of visitors,”

“White Haven and trail users from across the nation are thrilled that we have a reopening of the D&L Trail north and south of the town, and we now have a continuous route from the Black Diamond Trailhead all the way to North Catasauqua in Northampton County, totaling 59.8 miles of connected and improved DNL trail,” said Director of Trails & Conservation at Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Elizabeth Rosencrans.

“Our goal of reaching over 165 miles wouldn’t be possible without partners like the Commonwealth and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as well as the local communities. With continued support, we’re well on our way to becoming the longest multiuse trail and Pennsylvania.”