HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County is now in a position to make substantial investments in developing new outdoor recreation assets thanks to the new Trail, Park and Recreation Authority, which was formally unveiled Wednesday morning at the Hollidaysburg Municipal Building.

The group will “catalyze and coordinate the development of Blair County parks and trails,” said Rachel DiAndrea, who chairs the authority’s nine-member governing board composed of government and business leaders from across the county.

The primary objective of the authority is to substantially expand the county’s administrative capacity to oversee large projects like building ATV trails, walking paths and other assets.

Commissioner David Kessling said that leaders from neighboring counties such as Bedford, Cambria and Centre have wondered why Blair County has lagged behind as they have made sizable investments in developing their outdoor assets in recent years.

Kessling, alongside Blair Alliance President/CEO Steve McKnight, has envisioned Blair County as the “hub” for a regional network of outdoor recreation experiences designed to improve residents’ quality of life while encouraging tourism spending in the region, with the new authority playing a central role.

State Director of Outdoor Recreation Nathan Reigner said that in launching the authority, Blair County leadership created the “organizational and administrative infrastructure” necessary to support the area’s outdoor economy.

The state’s current outdoor economy supports more than 9,000 businesses while driving billions in annual economic activity, he said, and is poised for further growth with strategic investment.

State Rep. Scott Barger, R-Blair/Huntingdon, applauded county leadership for turning ideas into action.

According to Barger, Blair County has a remarkable natural beauty that is distinct within the commonwealth, and local leaders should capitalize on that resource as an engine for economic development.

“The authority can help us figure out what comes next,” he said.

DiAndrea said that the authority will work alongside existing government entities that oversee local parks, such as the Central Blair Recreation Commission, to achieve a common vision of outdoor recreation.

The authority was officially formed in October and needs to establish bylaws and set up its new office space at the Blair County Convention Center before beginning any development projects, DiAndrea said.

According to DiAndrea, the commissioners issued the authority about $72,000 in funding to get the group up and running through the end of the year, with a larger amount expected within the 2026 county budget.

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.