Vermont Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2019-2023 Table of Contents
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Vermont Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2019-2023 Table of Contents Outdoor recreation includes all Vermont Forests, Parks, and Recreation Collective Vision Statement 4 Letter from Governor 5 recreational activities undertaken for Letter from Commissioner 6 pleasure that occur outdoors. Acknowledgements 7 Executive Summary 8 Introduction 10 Accomplishments since the Last SCORP 12 Process & Methodology for this SCORP 16 Municipal, State, Federal, and NGO Recreation Facilities and Resources 19 Municipal Resources 19 State Resources 20 Federal Resources 28 NGOs & Other Organizations Supplying Recreational Resources 29 Demographic Trends 33 Demand for Outdoor Recreation in Vermont 33 Public Meeting Input 33 Public Recreation User Survey Results 33 Recreation Provider Survey Results 37 Vermont Outdoor Recreation Action Plan 40 References 53 Appendix A: Vermont Wetlands 54 Appendix B: Vermont’s Open Project Selection Process 56 Appendix C: Summary of Public Comments 59 Appendix D: Public Survey Instrument and Summary Statistics 61 Appendix E: Provider Survey Instrument and Summary Statistics 87 3 Table of Contents Outdoor recreation includes all Vermont Forests, Parks, and Recreation Collective Vision Statement 4 Letter from Governor 5 recreational activities undertaken for Letter from Commissioner 6 pleasure that occur outdoors. Acknowledgements 7 Executive Summary 8 Introduction 10 Accomplishments since the Last SCORP 12 Process & Methodology for this SCORP 16 Municipal, State, Federal, and NGO Recreation Facilities and Resources 19 Municipal Resources 19 State Resources 20 Federal Resources 28 NGOs & Other Organizations Supplying Recreational Resources 29 Demographic Trends 33 Demand for Outdoor Recreation in Vermont 33 Public Meeting Input 33 Public Recreation User Survey Results 33 Recreation Provider Survey Results 37 Vermont Outdoor Recreation Action Plan 40 References 53 Appendix A: Vermont Wetlands 54 Appendix B: Vermont’s Open Project Selection Process 56 Appendix C: Summary of Public Comments 59 Appendix D: Public Survey Instrument and Summary Statistics 61 Appendix E: Provider Survey Instrument and Summary Statistics 87 3 Vermont Forests, Parks, and Recreation Collective Vision Statement Vermont is the premier provider of a wide variety of exceptional, sustainable, and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities. FPR leads the state in proactive provides recreational user groups provision, support and management with productive, consistent and of these outstanding recreational responsive processes and interactions opportunities for the diverse with staff to accomplish mutually Vermont public and visitors, while beneficial goals. acknowledging the value and fundamental need for conserving the FPR is the statewide clearinghouse ecological integrity of our natural for information, education, and landscape for future generations. communication for outdoor FPR’s recreation management recreation. decisions are driven by science and experience and our best knowledge FPR’s recreation leadership results and interpretation of public needs and in healthy and safe residents, vibrant interests at large. communities, a thriving economy, and healthy ecosystems. Through our FPR leads a robust network of leadership, Vermonters and visitors statewide recreation partners, while recognize that a healthy society has a supported by overwhelming public strong ethical connection to the land. support and abundant funding. FPR 4 5 Vermont Forests, Parks, and Recreation Collective Vision Statement Vermont is the premier provider of a wide variety of exceptional, sustainable, and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities. FPR leads the state in proactive provides recreational user groups provision, support and management with productive, consistent and of these outstanding recreational responsive processes and interactions opportunities for the diverse with staff to accomplish mutually Vermont public and visitors, while beneficial goals. acknowledging the value and fundamental need for conserving the FPR is the statewide clearinghouse ecological integrity of our natural for information, education, and landscape for future generations. communication for outdoor FPR’s recreation management recreation. decisions are driven by science and experience and our best knowledge FPR’s recreation leadership results and interpretation of public needs and in healthy and safe residents, vibrant interests at large. communities, a thriving economy, and healthy ecosystems. Through our FPR leads a robust network of leadership, Vermonters and visitors statewide recreation partners, while recognize that a healthy society has a supported by overwhelming public strong ethical connection to the land. support and abundant funding. FPR 4 5 Acknowledgements The production of this plan was made possible through the cooperation and assistance of many individuals, organizations, and agencies. The State of Vermont thanks and appreciates the efforts of all who participated in developing this plan. The SCORP is a better document as a result, and we are grateful for all input received. Due to the large number of participants and organizations, acknowledgement of individual efforts is not possible. It is our hope that these planning efforts will result in continued growth in and improvements to outdoor recreation in Vermont. Prepared for: Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation Phil Scott, Governor of the State of Vermont Julie Moore, Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources Michael C. Snyder, Commissioner of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation Rebecca Washburn, Director of Lands Administration & Recreation Jessica Savage, Recreation Program Manager, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation Prepared by: The Center for Rural Studies at the University of Vermont Jane Kolodinsky, Director Amy Kelsey, Research Specialist Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Kelly Hamshaw, Research Specialist Members: Steven Kostell, Assistant Professor Richard Amore (ACCD) Kati Gallagher, Research Assistant Melissa Cate (VRPA/Burlington Parks and Recreation and Waterfront) Special thanks to: Holly Knox (USFS) Lisa Chase, Walter Opuszynski (VTFPR) University of Vermont Extension Gannon Osborn (VTFPR) Hannah Phillips (VHCB) The preparation of this plan was Tom Stuessy (VMBA/VTGC) financed in part through a planning grant from the National Park Service, Craig Whipple (VTSP) United States Department of the Interior, Kathryn Wrigley (VTFPR) under the provisions of the Land and Bob Zaino (VT FWD) Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 Vermont Trails and Greenways Council (Public Law 88-578, as amended). 6 7 Acknowledgements The production of this plan was made possible through the cooperation and assistance of many individuals, organizations, and agencies. The State of Vermont thanks and appreciates the efforts of all who participated in developing this plan. The SCORP is a better document as a result, and we are grateful for all input received. Due to the large number of participants and organizations, acknowledgement of individual efforts is not possible. It is our hope that these planning efforts will result in continued growth in and improvements to outdoor recreation in Vermont. Prepared for: Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation Phil Scott, Governor of the State of Vermont Julie Moore, Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources Michael C. Snyder, Commissioner of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation Rebecca Washburn, Director of Lands Administration & Recreation Jessica Savage, Recreation Program Manager, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation Prepared by: The Center for Rural Studies at the University of Vermont Jane Kolodinsky, Director Amy Kelsey, Research Specialist Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Kelly Hamshaw, Research Specialist Members: Steven Kostell, Assistant Professor Richard Amore (ACCD) Kati Gallagher, Research Assistant Melissa Cate (VRPA/Burlington Parks and Recreation and Waterfront) Special thanks to: Holly Knox (USFS) Lisa Chase, Walter Opuszynski (VTFPR) University of Vermont Extension Gannon Osborn (VTFPR) Hannah Phillips (VHCB) The preparation of this plan was Tom Stuessy (VMBA/VTGC) financed in part through a planning grant from the National Park Service, Craig Whipple (VTSP) United States Department of the Interior, Kathryn Wrigley (VTFPR) under the provisions of the Land and Bob Zaino (VT FWD) Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 Vermont Trails and Greenways Council (Public Law 88-578, as amended). 6 7 Executive Summary 2019 Vermont SCORP Priorities and Vermont Outdoor Recreation Action Plan This Vermont Outdoor Recreation Action Plan focuses on five priority areas and identifies 18 objectives and 80 strategies for the 2019-2023 planning period. Priority 1: Stewardship of Natural Resources and Recreational Areas Vermont’s landscape of forests, mountains, rivers, activities. Respondents also identified barriers that Objective 1: Support ecological integrity, conservation goals, and environmental quality in lakes, farms, and human communities provides a affect their ability to recreate. These barriers include recreation planning and management wealth of outdoor recreational opportunities. These a lack of time due to work and family obligations, Objective 2: Manage recreational assets and resources natural and recreational assets draw people to visit time and distance required to recreate, and the Objective 3: Cultivate political and public support for funding new and existing recreation