02-04-2004, 10:10 PM
DENVER, Co.—According to a new statewide planning document released by Colorado State Parks, approximately 94 percent of Coloradoans engage in outdoor pursuits offered at local parks close to home, on trails, in state and national parks, and in Colorado’s wild forests and remote canyons.
Colorado State Parks announced the completion of a comprehensive report entitled Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Future – Strategies for Colorado’s Outdoors Heritage. Funded by federal grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), this update of Colorado’s Statewide Comprehensive Recreation Plan (SCORP) is a collaborative response to the challenges facing recreation and tourism leaders across the state. In order to generate the report, Colorado State Parks took a two-tier approach by assessing public opinions and convening a steering committee comprised of community leaders, outdoor retailers, tourism experts, non-profit executives, as well as local, state and federal land management agencies.
The report focuses on the major challenges the groups identified facing Colorado’s outdoor future. Six strategic issues were outlined and actions were recommended to meet those challenges.
“We must develop pro-active strategies that will satisfy the recreation needs of a rapidly growing population, while conserving the resources that support the recreation,” said Lyle Laverty, Director of Colorado State Parks.”
The study also stresses how closely tied the tourism industry is to Colorado’s unique outdoors. Tourism is Colorado’s second largest industry, generating more than $7 billion a year in spending, according to a Longwoods International report commissioned by the Colorado Tourism Office. In addition, tourism contributes over $550 million to state and local tax coffers every year according to Dean Runyon Associates.
“Tourism and the outdoors was a featured topic at the last Governor’s Tourism Conference, recognizing the critical link between the tourism industry and the outdoors. To maintain this market advantage, strategies must be developed that enable visitors to enjoy all Colorado has to offer without affecting those special qualities that attract people to our outdoors,” said Gayle Brody, Colorado Tourism Office Director.
The report recommends that two pilot “Regional Recreation and Tourism Forums” be convened, one on the West Slope and another along the Front Range. The forums will focus on collaborative approaches identified by communities, tourism businesses and outdoors agencies. Future priorities include investments, transportation to recreation sites, public information, education and resource stewardship.
“Already renowned for our outdoors-based quality of life, Colorado is poised to take the next step. Through mutually agreed upon strategies, the public agencies that manage our magnificent landscapes can work with communities and business people to best deliver the outdoor experiences people want, while continuing to protect our natural resources, “ said Russell George, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
The report documents how engaged Coloradoans are in the outdoors. High participation rates are recorded particularly in picnicking, trails, water recreation, camping, fishing and visiting historic sites. Also noted is a high potential to convert Coloradoans’ love for the outdoors into opportunities to care for the resource through volunteerism and youth involvement.
“Public enthusiasm continues to build each year for volunteer projects such as those sponsored by Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and Colorado State Parks. We want to keep that momentum going by actively engaging volunteer and youth corps leaders in the pilot Regional Recreation and Tourism Forums,” said Laverty.
The National Park Service encourages a statewide look at outdoor recreation trends and demands by requiring state recreation agencies to compile a SCORP plan. Based on a planning horizon of 10 years (2003-2013), this report by Colorado State Parks examines the major influences and trends that characterize Colorado’s outdoor resources and recommends a strategic plan to maintain both outdoor recreation and heritage into the future.
The study produced key findings, including:
Since 1990, Colorado’s population increased by 37 percent. By 2025, the State Demographer projects additional growth of 47 percent, for a total population of 6.65 million;
Annual recreation-based apparel and equipment expenditures at retail outlets total $1.3 billion in Colorado;
Over 90 percent of Coloradoans classify themselves as trail-users and the average Colorado family uses trails 78 times a year;
Camping reservations at Colorado State Parks have increased 500 percent in the past 15 years;
The total economic benefit of bicycling in Colorado annually is over $1 billion according to a Colorado Department of Transportation study; and
Wildlife recreationists spend about $2.3 billion per year to fish, hunt and watch wildlife.
In addition to statewide information, the recreation resources of six Colorado regions are described, with special attention paid to the contribution of recreation and tourism to Colorado’s regional economies. The report details a local government survey that identifies high priorities for more trail systems, sports fields, playgrounds and park and open space acquisitions. Local governments report a five-year need for $1.02 billion for outdoors investments, but a capability to fund just over one half of that need with existing resources.
“Local parks and recreation agencies provide the close-to-home, everyday recreation opportunity we all enjoy. However, much more could be accomplished by fully funding federal programs such as LWCF, the Recreational Trails Program, and transportation enhancement grants for regional trails and Scenic Byways,” said Barb Wisney, Executive Director of the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association.
The complete SCORP document, an executive summary and multiple research documents pertaining to the report are available on the Web at www.parks.state.co.u
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Colorado State Parks announced the completion of a comprehensive report entitled Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Future – Strategies for Colorado’s Outdoors Heritage. Funded by federal grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), this update of Colorado’s Statewide Comprehensive Recreation Plan (SCORP) is a collaborative response to the challenges facing recreation and tourism leaders across the state. In order to generate the report, Colorado State Parks took a two-tier approach by assessing public opinions and convening a steering committee comprised of community leaders, outdoor retailers, tourism experts, non-profit executives, as well as local, state and federal land management agencies.
The report focuses on the major challenges the groups identified facing Colorado’s outdoor future. Six strategic issues were outlined and actions were recommended to meet those challenges.
“We must develop pro-active strategies that will satisfy the recreation needs of a rapidly growing population, while conserving the resources that support the recreation,” said Lyle Laverty, Director of Colorado State Parks.”
The study also stresses how closely tied the tourism industry is to Colorado’s unique outdoors. Tourism is Colorado’s second largest industry, generating more than $7 billion a year in spending, according to a Longwoods International report commissioned by the Colorado Tourism Office. In addition, tourism contributes over $550 million to state and local tax coffers every year according to Dean Runyon Associates.
“Tourism and the outdoors was a featured topic at the last Governor’s Tourism Conference, recognizing the critical link between the tourism industry and the outdoors. To maintain this market advantage, strategies must be developed that enable visitors to enjoy all Colorado has to offer without affecting those special qualities that attract people to our outdoors,” said Gayle Brody, Colorado Tourism Office Director.
The report recommends that two pilot “Regional Recreation and Tourism Forums” be convened, one on the West Slope and another along the Front Range. The forums will focus on collaborative approaches identified by communities, tourism businesses and outdoors agencies. Future priorities include investments, transportation to recreation sites, public information, education and resource stewardship.
“Already renowned for our outdoors-based quality of life, Colorado is poised to take the next step. Through mutually agreed upon strategies, the public agencies that manage our magnificent landscapes can work with communities and business people to best deliver the outdoor experiences people want, while continuing to protect our natural resources, “ said Russell George, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
The report documents how engaged Coloradoans are in the outdoors. High participation rates are recorded particularly in picnicking, trails, water recreation, camping, fishing and visiting historic sites. Also noted is a high potential to convert Coloradoans’ love for the outdoors into opportunities to care for the resource through volunteerism and youth involvement.
“Public enthusiasm continues to build each year for volunteer projects such as those sponsored by Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and Colorado State Parks. We want to keep that momentum going by actively engaging volunteer and youth corps leaders in the pilot Regional Recreation and Tourism Forums,” said Laverty.
The National Park Service encourages a statewide look at outdoor recreation trends and demands by requiring state recreation agencies to compile a SCORP plan. Based on a planning horizon of 10 years (2003-2013), this report by Colorado State Parks examines the major influences and trends that characterize Colorado’s outdoor resources and recommends a strategic plan to maintain both outdoor recreation and heritage into the future.
The study produced key findings, including:
Since 1990, Colorado’s population increased by 37 percent. By 2025, the State Demographer projects additional growth of 47 percent, for a total population of 6.65 million;
Annual recreation-based apparel and equipment expenditures at retail outlets total $1.3 billion in Colorado;
Over 90 percent of Coloradoans classify themselves as trail-users and the average Colorado family uses trails 78 times a year;
Camping reservations at Colorado State Parks have increased 500 percent in the past 15 years;
The total economic benefit of bicycling in Colorado annually is over $1 billion according to a Colorado Department of Transportation study; and
Wildlife recreationists spend about $2.3 billion per year to fish, hunt and watch wildlife.
In addition to statewide information, the recreation resources of six Colorado regions are described, with special attention paid to the contribution of recreation and tourism to Colorado’s regional economies. The report details a local government survey that identifies high priorities for more trail systems, sports fields, playgrounds and park and open space acquisitions. Local governments report a five-year need for $1.02 billion for outdoors investments, but a capability to fund just over one half of that need with existing resources.
“Local parks and recreation agencies provide the close-to-home, everyday recreation opportunity we all enjoy. However, much more could be accomplished by fully funding federal programs such as LWCF, the Recreational Trails Program, and transportation enhancement grants for regional trails and Scenic Byways,” said Barb Wisney, Executive Director of the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association.
The complete SCORP document, an executive summary and multiple research documents pertaining to the report are available on the Web at www.parks.state.co.u
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