Ohio's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor
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i LETTERTHE GOVERNOR FROM ii Acknowledgements The Ohio Department of Natural Resources would like to thank the citizens of Ohio and various federal, state and local agencies for their assistance in the development of this Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan for 2013. SCORP ADVISORY GROUP Verdie Abel Andrea Irland ODNR Division of Wildlife National Park Service Bill Bopp Nick Lautzenheiser ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Amy Bowman-Moore Douglas Leeds Erie County Park District ODNR Division of Watercraft Mary Fitch Nathan Jester ODNR Office of Real Estate ODNR Division of Forestry Bob Fonte Chad Wilberger Stark County Park District USDA Forest Service Wayne National Forest Brian George Woody Woodward ODNR Division of Coastal Management Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Melinda Huntley Ohio Travel Association ODNR ADMINISTRATION ODNR PROJECT STAFF James Zehringer Jean Backs Director, ODNR Project Manager, Author Glen Cobb Natalie Beale Chief, ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation Layout Design Artist Paul Baldridge Chief, Office of Real Estate The preparation of this plan was financed in part through a planning grant from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, under the provisions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (Public Law 88-578, as amended) Base map for maps in this publication is the Shaded Elevation Map of Ohio from the ODNR Division of Geological Survey. Unless otherwise indicated, photos are from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Table of Contents iii INTRODUCTION OF CONTENTS TABLE Purpose/Legal Authorization . 1 Assessing Needs, Preferences and Barriers . 1 TRENDS & PRIORITIES Barriers to Outdoor Recreation . 2 Diverse Needs of Ohioans . 3 Experiences in Nature . 3 Field and Court Sports . 4 Healthy Outdoor Lifestyles across Generations . 4 Heritage Sites, Events and Programs . 4 Land Acquisition . 5 Maintenance and Rehabilitation . 5 Motorized Recreation . 6 Niche Recreation and Emerging Activities . 6 Public Information and Reputation Management . 7 Special Events . 8 Tourism and Economic impact . 8 Trails . 8 Volunteerism . 9 Water-based Recreation . 9 OHIO’S RESOURCES State Characteristics . 10 Topography . 10 Water Resources . 12 Watershed Issues . 14 Harmful Algal Blooms . 15 Climate . 16 Flora and Fauna . 17 Subsurface Energy Resources . 22 GOVERNMENT RESOURCES FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION Federal Government Resources . 24 The United States Department of the Interior . 24 The United States Department of Agriculture . 29 The United States Department of Defense . 30 The United States Department of Transportation . 30 State Government Resources . 32 Ohio Department of Natural Resources . 32 Ohio Historical Society . 43 Ohio Development Services Agency . 46 Ohio Department of Transportation . 47 Ohio Public Works Commission . 49 iv Special District Resources . 50 Conservancy Districts . 50 Park Districts . 52 Joint Recreation Districts . 54 Local Governments . 54 Private and Non-Profit Organizations . 54 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION . 56 Sources of Public Input . 56 SCORP Focus Group Results . 57 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE SCORP Focus Group Report: Central Ohio . 58 SCORP Focus Group Report: Northeast Ohio . 62 SCORP Focus Group Report: Northwest Ohio . 65 SCORP Focus Group Report: Southeast Ohio . 68 SCORP Focus Group Report: Southwest Ohio . 71 2013 On-line Public Survey . 73 2013 STATEWIDE ISSUES & RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES . 91 Recreational Resource Protection . 91 Recreational Resource Use . 91 Recreational Resource Financing . 92 Partnerships and Planning . 92 Facility Maintenance and Rehabilitation . 93 Trail Corridors . 94 Water-based Recreation . 95 Land Acquisition . 96 Public Awareness and Outreach . 96 Wildlife-based and Nature-based Recreation . 97 Visitor Recruitment and Retention . 98 Appealing to Youth . 99 OHIO WETLANDS . 100 REFERENCES & RESOURCES . 102 APPENDICES (Appendices may be found in the supplemental publication 2013 Ohio Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Appendices located at ohiodnr.gov/SCORP) A. 2013 Outdoor Recreation Survey Instrument B. 2013 Outdoor Recreation Survey Data B-1. Outdoor Recreation Participation B-6. Priorities for Improvement B-2. Outdoor Recreation Preferences B-7. Overnight Travel B-3. Pressing Needs B-8. Satisfaction B-4. New or Expanded Activities B-9. Survey Respondent Demographics B-5. Events C. Trends-Important Activites and Priorites for Improvement D. Ohio Department of Natural Resources Statewide Trail Users Survey, 2009 PURPOSE The 2013 Ohio Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) has been prepared to guide outdoor recreation land acquisitions, facility Introduction 1 development, programming and management in the state of Ohio for a ASSESSING NEEDS, PREFERENCES AND BARRIERS TO four-year period planning period. It is OUTDOOR RECREATION OUTDOOR RECREATION TO ASSESSING NEEDS, PREFERENCES & BARRIERS the ninth in a series of comprehensive A number of issues and trends that are affecting the plans that represent the state of Ohio’s provision of outdoor recreational opportunities in Ohio commitment to continuous outdoor are described in the 2013 SCORP. These were identified recreation systems planning. The 2013 through a public participation process that included a Ohio SCORP satisfies the requirements of series of input discussion groups, survey research, an the federal Land and Water Conservation internal workgroup and significant input from an advisory Fund (LWCF) Act of 1965 (P.L. 88-578), group of outdoor recreation stakeholders. The 2013 which requires each state to have an SCORP implementation recommendations are offered approved SCORP on file with the U.S. to assist public, private, and independent agencies. Department of the Interior’s National Together, these agencies comprise Ohio’s outdoor Park Service to participate in the LWCF recreation delivery system in providing highly valuable cost-sharing funding program. The 2013 outdoor recreation opportunities. Ohio SCORP will be effective for the planning period from 2014-2019. A regional approach was used to acquire input for the 2013 Ohio SCORP from park professionals and others The primary goal of the 2013 Ohio SCORP closely associated with outdoor recreation in Ohio, either is to provide a contemporary assessment through outdoor recreation field management, public of outdoor recreation in Ohio and to office, association with a constituency or user group, or recommend ways in which public, another similar connection. Two focus groups were held private and independent agencies in each of five delineated regions of Ohio, and a statewide might strive to meet identified needs focus group was held to garner feedback from state park within.