Yes, Penn State provides free public access to open spaces and green spaces on all campuses. On all campuses, community members often use public green spaces for recreation, picnics, and other community activities. In addition to open and green spaces on the campuses, the following free public open and green spaces include:

• Penn State manages Stone Valley Forest, approximately 8,000 acres of forestland which are free and open to public use including hunting, fishing, and trapping of wildlife.  
• The Arboretum at Penn State The Arboretum at Penn State (370 acres of gardens, trails, and natural areas) is open free to the public. It features a year long schedule of events and volunteer programs. The Palmer Museum of Art’s relocation into the Arboretum created a new cultural–green space integration, enhancing free public access. 
• The 200 Acres self-guided touring app tests users’ knowledge of Penn State by providing new perspectives on the University’s original land, history, and purpose.
• Shavers Creek Environmental Center provide free public access to trails and open spaces as well as educational and recreational opportunities.
• Musser Gap is university property that provides free access to open space and serves as an important connection between State College and Rothrock State Forest. It provides a space for learning, stewardship, respite and connection. After two years of intensive student, faculty, and community work led by the PSU Department of Landscape Architecture with support from ClearWater Conservancy, including site analysis, community engagement, and design development, the PSU Office of Physical Plant (OPP) and Penn State Outreach teams developed a plan to support these efforts.
• The Penn State Arboreta Network aims to inventory trees and plant life while sharing research and teaching resources in order to leverage the capabilities of the Commonwealth Campuses, faculty, and trees to serve as teaching, research and community resources. Started by seven campuses (Abington, Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Mont Alto, Schuylkill and University Park) the eventual goal is to create an arboretum at each of the University’s 24 campuses.
• For the University Park campus, there is a map that describes all the trees to help visitors enjoy the natural environment.

 

Learn more about Penn State’s progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals on the SDG Progress page HERE, and learn more about work on SDG 11 HERE.