The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced last week that free menstrual products are now available in 68 state parks, including Ricketts Glen, Frances Slocum, Nescopeck, Lackawanna, Tuscarora, Hickory Run, Beltzville, Promised Land and Worlds End.
DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn was joined by First Lady Lori Shapiro and members of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Next Generation Engagement at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Cumberland County to announce a new initiative.
The products are now stocked in park offices, visitor centers and environmental educational centers at participating parks, offering a convenient and essential resource for visitors. Signage in English and Spanish helps parkgoers locate where products are available. This effort is part of the Shapiro Administration’s broader work to make public spaces across the Commonwealth more accessible and supportive for all.
The announcement coincided with Menstrual Hygiene Day, highlighting the importance of addressing period poverty through public policy and access.
The First Lady has made menstrual equity a priority — visiting nonprofits that distribute feminine hygiene products in communities, inviting stakeholders to the governor’s residence, and visiting schools across the Commonwealth to hear directly from students.
“I’ve been so inspired by all the young women I’ve met who are making their voices heard and starting conversations on period poverty — talking so comfortably about something that, for so long, has been a taboo subject,” Shapiro said. “Thanks to them speaking up, Pennsylvania has taken some major steps to ensure more women have access to basic hygiene supplies throughout the day. I want everyone to be able to enjoy their time outdoors, and DCNR’s work to get free menstrual products in the bathrooms and visitor offices of our state parks is critical to making our outdoor spaces welcoming to everyone.”
DCNR will evaluate the program’s success and expand it to additional park locations in the future.