Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
©KATYA HORNER ©KATYA Texas Outdoor 2018 Recreation Plan Recreation Grants Branch State Parks Division 4200 Smith School Road • Austin, Texas 78744 www.tpwd.texas.gov © 2017 TPWD. PWD RP P4000-1673 (11/17) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TDD) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT December 27, 2017 Mr. Cameron Sholly Regional Director, Midwest Region National Park Service 601 Riverfront Drive Omaha, Nebraska 62102 Dear Mr. Sholly: I am pleased to present the 2018 Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan. This letter certifies that ample opportunity for public participation has occurred in the development of the plan. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) contracted a research firm to conduct a survey to determine Texas residents’ participation in outdoor recreation, as well as their attitudes toward a variety of issues related to outdoor recreation in the state. Responsive Management is an internationally recognized public opinion and attitude survey research firm specializing in natural resource and otitdoor recreation issues. The study entailed a scientific multi-modal survey of Texas residents with a total of 2,726 completed surveys. In addition, TPWD conducted a parks and recreation survey of federal, state and local agencies in Texas to assess the evaluation criteria for awarding Local Park Grants. Feedback regarding the application and grant management processes was also included. A total of 33$ responses were received from parks and recreation professionals around the state. This plan creates awareness of current outdoor recreation and conservation needs, issues and areas of concern through input from citizens and outdoor recreation professionals. It is aligned with TPWD’s Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan and guides us on how to best administer Texas’ apportionment of the Land and Water Conservation Fund by merging national, state and local goals. /qSincerely, Greg Ab ott Governor GA:ssk cc: Mr. Carter Smith, Executive Director, TPWD POST OFFICE Box 12428 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 512-463-2000 (VoICE) DIAL 7-1-1 FoR RELAY SERVICES Table of Contents Letter from the Governor ............................................................................................................ i Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... ii Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. iii Chapter 1 – Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan Overview ....................................................... 1.1 Chapter 2 – A Sense of Place: The Lone Star State ........................................................... 2.1 Chapter 3 – Texas Wetlands ................................................................................................. 3.1 Chapter 4 – Inventory of Outdoor Recreation Lands ............................................................ 4.1 Chapter 5 – Outdoor Recreation Demand ............................................................................ 5.1 Chapter 6 – Sustainable Park Design ................................................................................... 6.1 Chapter 7 – Open Project Selection Process ....................................................................... 7.1 Appendices A – Land and Water Conservation Fund Act ............................................................. A.1 B. – Legal Authority ................................................................................................... B.1 C – State Strategies Met by the Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan ............................ C.1 D – Statewide Citizen Survey ................................................................................... D.1 E – Outdoor Recreation Provider Survey………………………………………….…..E.1 F – Local Park Grant Scoring Criteria ........................................................................ F.1 ii Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan Table of Contents Executive Summary The LWCF Act of 1965 authorized the distribution of matching grants to states and local governments for statewide outdoor recreation planning, and to leverage public and private investment in public outdoor recreation through the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The 2018 Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan (TORP) fulfills an eligibility requirement allowing Texas to continue receiving its allotted appropriation through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program. Each state is required to produce a statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan (SCORP) at least once every five years. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) is the state agency that holds the authority to represent and act for the state of Texas regarding the LWCF stateside assistance program. The minimum obligations specified in the SCORP guidelines include requirements to: 1. Identify outdoor recreation issues of statewide importance 2. Evaluate demand for public outdoor recreation preferences 3. Evaluate the supply of outdoor recreation resources and facilities 4. Provide an implementation program that identifies the state’s strategies, priorities, and actions for the LWCF apportionment 5. Include a wetlands priority component consistent with Section 303 of the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 6. Include Governor approval The TORP goals are to: 1. Assess current statewide outdoor recreation and conservation needs and areas of concern 2. Act as a guide on how to best administer Texas’ apportionment of the LWCF 3. Align with the TPWD Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan To ensure that ample opportunity for public input occurred in the development of the TORP, a third party research firm was hired to complete a general population survey. Responsive Management is an internationally recognized public opinion and attitude survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues. This study was conducted for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to determine Texas residents’ participation in outdoor recreation, as well as their attitudes toward a variety of issues related to outdoor recreation in the state. The study entailed a scientific multi-modal survey of Texas residents with a total of 2,726 completed surveys. In addition, TPWD conducted a parks and recreation provider survey of federal, state, and local agencies in Texas to assess the evaluation criteria for awarding Local Park Grants. The survey effort included feedback regarding application and grant management processes. A total of 338 responses were received from park and recreation professionals around the state. iii Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan Executive Summary In 2011, the State Park Planning and Geospatial Resources area was tasked with updating the land and water inventory mandated in Chapter 11 of the Parks and Wildlife Code and as required in the SCORP guidelines. The process involved an intensive data collection period followed by analysis of current conservation and recreation lands available to Texas communities. The Inventory of Outdoor Recreation Lands in Texas Chapter has been updated to include newly funded parks. Each year the LWCF apportionment is split between the State Park and the Local Park programs. As needs differ slightly for each program, the Executive Office Land Conservation Program and the Recreation Grants Branch developed separate project selection criteria. Scoring criteria were analyzed to insure that they support the priorities identified in the 2018 TORP. The Open Project Selection Process Chapter provides an overview of the different scoring systems. Using sustainable techniques in the design and construction of public parks and other outdoor recreation supports the broader TPWD mission of managing and conserving the natural and cultural resources of Texas for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Sustainable Park Design Chapter, authored by the Infrastructure Division, provides a starting point for recreation providers to help identify specific solutions for implementing sustainable design elements into the creation, construction, and maintenance of outdoor recreation lands across the state. In order to meet the requirements of the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act (Public Law 99- 645, S. 303, 1986) and to maintain eligibility of the State to participate in the LWCF Program, TPWD and partners assembled the Texas Wetlands Conservation Plan. The Plan identifies non-regulatory, voluntary approaches to wetlands conservation supported through stakeholder-driven planning and partnership-based conservation actions at regional and local scales. More detailed information can be found in the Texas Wetlands Chapter. iv Executive Summary Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan Overview The Land and Water Conservation Fund The LWCF Act of 1965 authorized the distribution of matching grants to states and local governments for statewide outdoor