State purchases 5,600 acres for new motorized recreation area

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) recently purchased 5,600 acres in the Weiser State Forest that will be developed into a motorized recreation area.

The parcel is in Schuylkill and Luzerne counties and has tributaries to Catawissa Creek.

The addition of the Catawissa Recreation Area will contribute to Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation sector, which produces nearly $12 billion in economic impact and supports thousands of jobs statewide.

“Visiting a recreation area like Catawissa is not just a fun way to spend a day in nature with family and friends,” Nathan Reigner, Outdoor Recreation director, said. “It makes an important contribution to the prosperity of Pennsylvania’s rural communities. Each year, motorized outdoor recreation contributes more than $350 million to Pennsylvania’s economy, a contribution that directly benefits small businesses, such as vehicle dealers and repair shops, restaurants, gas stations, and accommodations close to destinations like Catawissa as well as in riders’ hometowns.”

The Catawissa Recreation Area includes land that was part of Paragon Adventure Park, an off-highway vehicle park that closed more than a decade ago.

DCNR purchased the land using funds allocated in the state’s 2022-23 budget for conservation, recreation, and preservation. It will work with a consultant to develop and implement a motorized recreation plan.