More than 12,000 surveys were mailed to a random sampling of Pennsylvanians last month as the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources prepares an update of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Plan.

Updated every five years, the plan helps to identify emerging recreation issues and capital investments in state and local parks and other recreation facilities.

The surveys queried residents about their personal outdoors recreational activities and asked for suggestions on how to improve those opportunities in the state. The 12-page survey is estimated to take 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Respondents had the option to complete the survey online, and participation was voluntary and confidential.

The survey is being conducted for DCNR by Penn State University.

"Pennsylvania is blessed with some of the most beautiful outdoor areas in the world, including parks, rivers, trails and green areas," DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis said. "We want to better understand what people like to do outdoors--whether it's swimming, geocaching, walking for exercise or many other activities--so that we can plan our future grant making, recreation land conservation, facility development and management to meet their needs and desires."

The last Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Plan, published in 2004, showed an increase in interest in community greenways and greenway-related activities. Statewide, the survey found 56 percent of respondents requesting an increase in greenways or improved greenways in the state. The plan predicted the demand for greenways would increase, citing 63 percent of respondents calling for more bicycle paths, 57 percent wanting more backpacking trails, and 53 percent saying the state needed more walking paths.

Since 2004, acreage of wildlife habitat has continued to decrease and the number of hunters and anglers continues to shrink as Pennsylvania reflects a national trend in lower and dramatically changing outdoors recreational usage. In 2007, Gov. Ed Rendell hosted the national Governor's Outdoors Conference and commissioned a panel of experts to supply recommendations on how to get more people outdoors.

The 2009 Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Plan is expected to provide fresh data.

"We are asking people how often they participate in outdoor activities and why, what types of activities and where, the quality of the facilities and opportunities available to them nearby and some of their attitudes related to public recreation, conservation and open space," DiBerardinis said. "We encourage everyone who receives a survey to complete it and send it back, because they will be helping direct the future work and outdoor recreation priorities of the commonwealth."