For Immediate Release – August 13, 2019
Contact:
Amy Kelsey, Research Specialist
UVM Center for Rural Studies
802-598-4551 | amy.kelsey@uvm.edu
Jessica Savage, Recreation Program Manager
Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation | Agency of Natural Resources
802-249-1230 | jessica.savage@vermont.gov
Shaping the Future of Outdoor Recreation in Vermont
Montpelier, Vt. -- The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation and the Center for Rural Studies at the University of Vermont are conducting an online survey to gather input from all Vermonters regarding outdoor recreation and are inviting the public to provide feedback. The purpose of the survey is to help develop Vermont’s next Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).
The survey is at https://fpr.vermont.gov/SCORP. To receive a paper copy of the survey, call 802-598-4551 or email amy.kelsey@uvm.edu. The survey will be available online from August 12th until September 9th.
People can also provide input on the SCORP at one of two open houses hosted by FPR:
- Monday August 19th, Brattleboro Fire Station, Brattleboro, 6-8pm
- Tuesday August 27th, Thatcher Brook School Gym, Waterbury, 6-8pm
Vermont’s outdoor recreation opportunities are as diverse as its people and places. Four seasons, mountains, rivers, lakes and millions of acres of forests and fields serve as the settings for a diverse range of recreational pursuits. Vermont’s recreation and planning professionals use the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) to help capitalize on these natural assets and deliver facilities and programs that make it easy for people to enjoy the outdoors. As demographics, outdoor trends, and interests change, a new plan every five years identifies outdoor recreation strategies that help to address societal needs and desires.
To assist with outdoor recreation, land acquisition, development, and planning at the state level, the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program offers grants to states that can, in turn, award grants to municipalities. To qualify for LWCF funds, states must revise their SCORP every five years. Maintaining a current SCORP ensures Vermont's eligibility to receive funding for municipal and state recreation and conservation projects from the LWCF.
Since 1965, over $31 million in LWCF funding has been granted to Vermont. In addition to making Vermont eligible for federal funding, the Vermont SCORP provides an opportunity to assess recreation supply and demand, and helps to guide strategy for local governments, state government and other outdoor recreation providers. The 2019 Vermont SCORP will also build on and incorporate the recent work of the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC). The goals and actions identified in the final plan help to determine where best to make investments in recreation.
Contact Amy Kelsey at UVM’s Center for Rural Studies, amy.kelsey@uvm.edu or 802-598-4551, or Jessica Savage, Recreation Program Manager at Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Jessica.savage@vermont.gov or 802-249-1230 with questions about the SCORP or this research.
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