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Hi this is Marci Mowery, president of
the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation.

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I'm coming to you from my
backyard during this time of the COVID-19

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when we have limited access to outdoor
recreation, spending time in our yard is

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one of the things that we can do if
we're fortunate enough to have a yard.

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Our parks and forests are closed which
means most of the built facilities,

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all of the built facilities are closed and I
would also discourage you and your

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children from using the playgrounds. If
you feel the need to get outside and

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spending time outdoors is good for your
health and helps to reduce our stress

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please follow a few guidelines. If you
go to visit a park or forest and the

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trailhead is busy please consider using
another trailhead or a different parking

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lot because being close proximity to
people can help spread the COVID-19

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virus and that's one of the things we're
trying not to do.

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Our park and forest staff is very limited at this time so be careful of what you're doing

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reduce any high-risk activities because
help might not readily be available and

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also make sure that you're cleaning up
after yourself and your pets. Let's be

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stewards of our state parks and state
forests so that we can continue to use

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them during this time period and let's
work together to reduce contact with one another.

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keeping our social distance so that we

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can kick COVID-19 and have our parks and forests back to us as we would like them.

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I also think this is a great time to
think about things that you would like

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to be doing. You know, flip through your
phone and look at pictures of time that

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you've spent in the outdoors. Because
even just engaging with imagery of the

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outdoors, imagery of our parks our
forests can help to reduce our stress.

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So throughout the next few weeks we'll
be sharing information with you on our

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website on our Facebook page on our
other social media channels, ideas of

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things that you should do resources so
that you can engage your children at home.

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Because we're here with you! We are fans of our parks and forests just as much as you are.

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Our friends groups are
eager to get started again and to

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reintroduce their activities and if we
all work together we can make that

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happen sooner rather than later. So,
be safe. Thank you.