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Or hike a trail, ride a bike or row on the rivers

Thursday, July 11, 2002

By Donald I. Hammonds, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Want to boost Pittsburgh's economy?

Go float a boat.

Go Kayaking. Biking. Running. Whatever turns you on about the great outdoors -- just do it.

	Michael Schiller, left, the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute's executive director, and Michael Sobkowiak, the group's communications director, lead a tour for campers at the Robin Hill Nature Reserve in Moon. (Lake Fong, Post-Gazette)

That's the word from the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute, which celebrated its first birthday yesterday. The nonprofit group has been spreading the news about Pittsburgh's many outdoor assets, encouraging people to use them -- and pointing out the economic value in doing so.

"Remember, people spend money in connection with outdoor activities, whether it's the money you spend getting there, the equipment you buy, the hotels or bed-and-breakfasts you stay in en route or while you're there -- it's all economic impact," said Michael J. Schiller, the institute's executive director.

While a lack of information makes it difficult to gauge the impact outdoor activities have on the region's economy, studies have determined that at the state level, it's sizable. The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, for instance, determined in 1996 that the state's 879,000 hunters create 20,243 jobs and generate $1.6 billion of direct and indirect spending throughout Pennsylvania. The American Sportsfishing Association said fishing generated $1.34 billion in economic activity and supported 16,677 jobs in the state. Even bird watching is estimated to create thousands of jobs and $56.2 million of economic activity in the state.

With so many outdoors amenities within its borders, Western Pennsylvania garners more than its share of the economic benefits, Schiller said. "You can just about do it all right around here in Pittsburgh, whether it's hiking, camping, extended wilderness backpacking, rock climbing -- whatever it may be."

That may explain why economic development planners, business development specialists and others whose jobs are to bring new business and residents to the region often stress the abundance of Pittsburgh's natural resources and its outdoor attractions.

At a time when businesses and individuals can locate and live just about anywhere they please, lifestyle and recreational amenities are playing a much bigger role. That's why economic experts say Pittsburghers have a stake in maintaining and improving the region's outdoors facilities and options, even if they don't use them themselves.

"The image of the city is now changing just because you have all these outdoor activities available to you. As a resident I may not use them, but I can have pride in them. They are available and they increase your options. It's a reason for having more civic pride in living here; and having these things here really enriches your life," said Michael Sobkowiak, the Field Institute's communications director.

The nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to promoting outdoor recreation, receives financial support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and offers more than 300 outings, classes and events every year.

Its staff includes folks who have "worked in the for-profit sector, so we are pretty well attuned to customer service and satisfaction," Schiller said. "We want to make the experience of getting outdoors easy and fun for people, and that extends from how we treat people calling in to register for trips to those who do the trips themselves."

Each staff member at the institute is expected to lead tours and trips and perform a variety of functions that help build the relationship with the customer, Schiller said. "I have tons of stuff to do here in the office, but I still lead trips. That way I get to know what people like to do. Everyone who works here must have a passion for the outdoors. We experience the very same things that our customers experience."

The institute focuses heavily on beginners -- people who may be reluctant to use the outdoors or may feel they don't know enough about various activities to really enjoy them. Hence, much of what the agency does is geared toward raising the comfort level of the inexperienced.

Staff members are thrilled by the increasing use of the region's outdoor amenities.

Take kayaking and other boat-related sports.

"At one time, the Three Rivers Rowing Association had one boathouse in the city to use for storing boats for rowing, kayaking and sculling. Ten years ago, if people wanted to do crew or rowing, there was plenty of room at that boathouse. Now you can hardly get in there, so a second boathouse is now going to be built," said Sobkowiak.

New forms of water-related sports also are evolving here, including dragon boat racing. Between 18 and 22 rowers, sitting two abreast, paddle to the steady beat of a drummer, whose beats are supposed to symbolize the heartbeats of the dragon. Those beats also encourage synchronization.

The boats are ornately carved, with colorful dragon heads on the bow stem and dragon tails at the stern. Dragon boat racing is a 3,000-year-old sport that originated in China.

With the growth of biking, rollerblading and roller-skating, it's almost inevitable that there will be more outlets around town that will rent equipment, resulting in more jobs, income and tax revenue for the city and region.

"I can see one day when we'll have three, four or five spots around for bike rental, for instance, where you would rent at one place and leave them at another location," Schiller said.

With the success of their current programming, the men said, they're now focusing on the future.

"The main thing is to become as self-sufficient as possible and not rely on the largess of foundations forever," Schiller said.

"We also just want to spread the word more about Pittsburgh and the outdoors. I would love it if anytime somebody puts together a list of top 10 cities, whether it's mountain biking, hiking or whatever, Pittsburgh shows up in every last one of those lists. I'd like every one of the editors of those specialty magazines to think of Pittsburgh."