How to propose a recreation project on Agency of Natural Resources lands
Recreation partners and the public can submit recreation projects, whether a small relocation of an existing trail or a new parking area, to be reviewed by the ANR staff. If you are interested in submitting a project, the first step is to contact the Stewardship Forester or Recreation Specialist for the relevant district.
General principles for considering recreation projects
Substantive management decisions on state lands are made using the Long-Range Management Plan (LRMP) process, which integrates multiple resource values and public input. In the absence of an LRMP for state lands, decisions are considered against any existing interim stewardship plans (ISPs), easements or other legal restrictions, and statutory authority of the land-owning department.
Process for submitting recreation project proposals
New recreation projects proposed by partners on state lands must also proceed through the State Lands Recreation Project Review process. The recreation project will first be evaluated against any available LRMP, ISPs or other relevant constraints for that unit to see if it is compatible. If the project does not align with existing authorizing documents or legal constraints and/or would constitute a substantial change from an existing LRMP, a full LRMP update or an amendment may be required before the project is executed. If the project is or could be compatible with the LRMP, it can proceed through the Recreation Project Review process.
The goal of the Recreation Project Review process is to ensure that every recreation project implemented on ANR lands aligns with the Agency’s overall mission, is compatible with the associated LRMP and other authorizing documents or legal constraints, adds value to the recreational resource in the area or parcel and does not cause undue, adverse impacts to other resources. To achieve this, the project is reviewed by the interdisciplinary District Stewardship Teams, which are made up of staff from the three Departments within the Agency. The review process consists of a Pre-Proposal that, pending DST approval, leads to the creation and submission of a Full Proposal. The intention is to screen out projects that don’t align with ANR’s mission and are incompatible with other resources early in the process, although it is possible that a project will be dismissed at any point in the process.
Process Stages
- Recreation Project Concept
- Pre-Proposal
- Full Proposal Development
- Full Proposal Review
- Project Execution
Resources
- Recreation Project Review Process Flowchart - provides a detailed overview of the elements of the Recreation Project Review Process that are listed above.
- Pre-Proposal Form - fillable pdf form to be submitted to the district recreation specialist for review at the pre-proposal stage
- Full Proposal Form - fillable pdf form to be submitted to the district recreation specialist for review at the full proposal stage
If you have inquiries about a specific project, please contact the relevant recreation specialist. If you have questions about the general Recreation Project Review Process or about statewide projects, please contact Jim Duncan, State Lands Manager - james.duncan@vermont.gov or 802-636-7554.