Pennsylvania Statutes Title 32 P.S. Forests, Waters and State Parks § 5103. Definitions

(1) “Recreation and historical purposes” means any use of land for public park, fishing, hunting, boating, open space purposes or scenic sights or preservation of historical significance, or for any related public outdoor recreation or historical purpose.

(2) “Conservation and reclamation purposes” means any use of land for water supply, flood control, water quality control development, soil erosion control, reforestation, wildlife reserves or any other uses that will maintain, improve or develop the natural environment of soil, water, air, minerals or wildlife of this Commonwealth so as to assure their optimum use.

(3) “Development” means any construction, improvement, utility and road relocation, alteration or renovation required for and compatible with the physical development, improvement of land or water resources.

(4) “Administrative expenses” means any expenditures of funds to accomplish the purposes of this act, including but not limited to expenditures of the Commonwealth agencies for their studies, planning, development, appraisal, investigation, engineering, legal and construction costs.

(5) “Land” means real property, including improvements thereof or thereon, rights of way, water, riparian and other rights, easements, privileges, and any other physical property or rights or interests of any kind or description relating to or connected with real property.

(6) “Political subdivision” means any county, city, borough, town or township or any official agency created by the foregoing units of government under the laws of the Commonwealth: Provided, That any of the actions of such official agency taken under the authority of this act shall be first approved by the participating local governing bodies in such agency.

(7) “Studies” means the collection, analysis and presentation of information, alternatives and recommendations in order that the Commonwealth or political subdivisions may singly or jointly determine a course of action to meet the purposes of this act.

(8) “Open space benefits” means the benefits to the citizens of the Commonwealth which result from the promotion or restriction of the use of selected open space lands, including but not limited, to the protection and conservation of existing and planned parks, recreation and conservation lands, the promotion of sound, cohesive and efficient land development by providing open spaces between communities; the protection and conservation of natural or scenic resources, including but not limited to streams, flood plains, steep slopes, marshes, soils and beaches; and the protection and conservation of farm land, forests and land, water resources and watersheds and historic, geologic and botanic sites.

(9) “Open space lands” means land used for purposes not inconsistent with the achievement of open space benefits.