Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2009-2013
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New Yorkork State OfficeOffi eof of Parks, P rks, RecreationR cre t and HistoricHi to i PreservationPreservati n Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2009-2013 People • Resources • Recreation SEQR NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF A FINAL EIS Date of Notice: December 10, 2008 Lead Agency: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Title of Action: Adoption and Implementation of a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan SEQR Status: Type I Location of Action: Statewide This Notice is issued pursuant to Part 617 of the implementing regulations pertaining to Article 8 (State Environmental Quality Review) of the Environmental Conservation Law. A Final Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and a Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS) has been prepared and has been accepted by OPRHP. Brief Project Description: The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is prepared periodically by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) to provide statewide policy direction and to fulfill the agency’s recreation and preservation mandate. The updated SCORP serves as a status report and as an overall guidance document for recreation resource preservation, planning, and development from 2009 through 2013. The document is also used to guide the allocation of state and federal funds for recreation and open space projects. The direction for recreation in the state is guided by statewide policies. These policies are grouped into four major initiative areas that respond to the current issues impacting the state’s natural, cultural and recreational resources: revitalizing our parks and historic sites, natural resource stewardship and interpretation, creating connections beyond the parks, and sustainability. The Final SCORP/EIS contains a comments and responses chapter as well as provides updates and additions to the Draft SCORP/EIS as necessary. Availability of FEIS: The Final SCORP/EIS may be downloaded at http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/agency/scorp. Copies or CDS of the Final SCORP/EIS are available upon request from the Agency Contact, available for review at all OPRHP regional offices, and CDs are available at DEC regional offices. The Agency Contact can provide regional office locations. Agency representatives and the public can provide comments during the consideration period for the FEIS. Comments on the Final Plan/FEIS will be accepted by the Agency until December 22. Comments should be forwarded to the contact person: Agency Contact: Robert W. Reinhardt Resource and Facility Planning Bureau NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Agency Building 1, Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12238 [email protected] (518) 486-2909 Fax: (518) 474-7013 Copies of this notice have been filed with involved and interested agencies and persons including the Commissioner of OPRHP, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Department of State, and the Governor of NYS. The New York State Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and Generic Environmental Impact Statement 2009 - 2013 Prepared by : New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Completed: December 10, 2008 Contact: Robert W. Reinhardt, Director Bureau of Resource and Facility Planning NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Agency Building 1, 17th Floor Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12238 (518) 486- 2909 David A. Paterson Governor Carol Ash Commissioner The National Park Service, Department of the Interior, under the provi- sions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (Public Law 88-578) , as amended, provided support in the preparation of this report. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, strictly prohibits un- lawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or disability. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington DC 20240. Table of Contents Table of Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction ..........................................................................................................9 Planning Process ...........................................................................................................12 Principles ............................................................................................................12 Objectives ...........................................................................................................12 Process ...............................................................................................................12 Public Participation ............................................................................................13 Chapter 2 - Vision and Policies .................................................................................................15 Vision for Recreation in New York State .........................................................................15 Policies and Strategies ...................................................................................................15 Chapter 3 - Trends, Issues and Needs .......................................................................................21 Population Trends ..........................................................................................................21 Aging ..................................................................................................................21 Youth ..................................................................................................................22 Universal Accessibility ........................................................................................24 Composition of the Population ............................................................................24 Leisure Time .......................................................................................................24 Social Conditions ................................................................................................24 Energy.................................................................................................................25 Climate Change ..................................................................................................25 Where the public stands on recreation and conservation issues ....................................25 Recreation Supply ...............................................................................................26 Recreation Demand ............................................................................................27 Activity Analyses .................................................................................................30 Impediments to recreation participation.............................................................42 Recreation Need ..................................................................................................43 Chapter 4 - Land Conservation and Resource Stewardship .......................................................47 Land Conservation ........................................................................................................47 Economic Benefits of Recreation and Open Space ..............................................47 Open Space Conservation ..................................................................................49 Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program ...........................................69 Farmland Protection ...........................................................................................70 Stewardship ...................................................................................................................71 Natural Resource Stewardship and Interpretation ...............................................71 Inventory and Identification ................................................................................72 Designation .........................................................................................................72 Management .......................................................................................................73 Regulation ..........................................................................................................75 Interpretation/ Education Programs ...................................................................76 Cultural Resource Stewardship and Interpretation .............................................77 Chapter 5 - Creating Connections Beyond Parks and Open Spaces ..........................................81 Protection of Existing Protected Lands .........................................................................81 Protecting Connections to Protect Our Natural Resources ............................................81 Trails .............................................................................................................................85 iii Table of Contents Vision ..................................................................................................................85 Trail Definition ...................................................................................................85 Types of Trails ....................................................................................................86 Terminology ........................................................................................................86