Arkansas Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2014-2018 Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism 1 Research for and preparation of this document was partially financed through a planning grant from the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, under the provisions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (Public Law 88-578, as amended). © 2013 by Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. All rights reserved. To request more information, please contact: Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism 1 Capitol Mall Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-7777 www.arkansas.com 2 Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Office of the Executive Director Little Rock, Arkansas Fellow Arkansans: I am pleased to present the 2014-2018 Arkansas Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. This plan identifies how outdoor recreation is available through facilities and programs, and how public needs and interests drive the direction of new recreational opportunities. A core part of this plan is the priorities, which are recommendations to guide use and administration of natural, scenic, and recreation resources within our state. Significantly, it establishes goals for the disbursement of state and federal grant funds in Arkansas. Our lakes, rivers, mountains, forests and parks are the places where we take our families and guests for relaxation and to connect with nature. Arkansas residents value deeply the beautiful landscapes of the environment. These public resources are features that raise our quality of life, and play an important role in attracting and keeping people and businesses in our state. Ask an Arkansan, or one of the many visitors to our state, what they think of the state’s outdoors and you’ll hear stories of appreciation, adventure, and praise. I often hear, “I didn’t realize Arkansas had so much to offer.” Arkansas has variety in its forests, rivers, lakes, mountains and scenery. The great people, history, culture, and geographic location all combine to make our state a wonderful place to live and visit. We in Arkansas invite business and industry to give us a chance to showcase our state’s magnificent and plentiful human and natural resources. Through surveys, workshops, and multi-faceted collaboration, this plan represents our efforts to identify how best to administer and protect outdoor resources. Join me in taking up the challenges set out in this document to protect our natural, scenic, and recreation resources for our economic benefit and the enjoyment of generations to come. Richard W. Davies 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Arkansas has a rich array of natural, environmental and cultural resources which are often used for outdoor recreation. For decades, local and state government agencies have been managing and protecting these resources by investing in land and developing state-of-the art facilities for the enjoyment of local residents and visitors alike. This legacy lives on today, with strong public support for the creation of new, expanded and improved outdoor recreation sites that meet contemporary interests. The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) helps to capture historical and current efforts designed to enhance recreation opportunities in Arkansas. The SCORP brings together voices from the users of recreation sites, planners and developers, government officials, agency managers and elected officials. Together, they have laid out this plan to guide recreation development in a beneficial and sustainable manner. The United States Department of the Interior’s National Park Service (NPS) administers the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State Assistance Program, which allocates federal funds to state governments for acquisition and development of recreation sites. The SCORP is a requirement of that program. The NPS partners with Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism to administer sub-grants to state agencies and local units of government. Arkansas has received tens of millions of dollars through LWCF since the inception of the program in 1965. Local funding of outdoor recreation has been strong as well, with the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Grant and Trust Fund contributing over $23 million to park grants through the years. The SCORP examines broad demand for outdoor recreation expressed by citizens, as well as the opportunities that are already present in the form of recreational facilities, programs and agency support. There is strong interest in outdoor recreation among state residents and guests, as suggested by the increasing levels of park and trail use. A statewide telephone survey of residents was conducted, focusing on interest and participation in outdoor recreation. More than 500 people participated in the survey, and their responses indicated that 61% felt outdoor recreation is very important. Many recreation activities are popular among the respondents, with walking-jogging- hiking in the top spot, nature viewing at second place, and driving or motorcycle riding in third place. An important issue was illustrated in the survey, with 31% of respondents saying that health and wellness are prominent reasons for their participation in outdoor recreation. The connection between outdoor recreation, physical activity and improved health can be made both intuitively and with documented research. Activity at the national level can be seen in a multi-agency program called Healthy People 2020. The National Park Service has its own health-related program, Healthy Parks Healthy People. Within the state, the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention is combining efforts of many agencies into a holistic effort toward improved public health. Outdoor recreation has been shown to be a strong economic engine in the state. Reports indicate that outdoor recreation generated $10 billion in consumer spending, $2.9 billion in salaries and wages, 126,000 in direct jobs creation, and $696 million in state and local tax revenue for the state of Arkansas. 4 The opportunities for outdoor recreation are vast and varied in Arkansas. The National Park Service operates several parks, as well as supports local recreation efforts through its LWCF State Assistance Program. Other federal agencies include the U.S. Forest Service, with national forests open to recreation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates many lakes, campgrounds and recreation sites in the state. State agencies provide a tremendous diversity of recreation opportunities. Of primary importance is the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, and its State Parks Division, with over 52 state parks, welcome centers, and countless programs for guests. The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, play large roles in preserving natural areas, lakes and wildlife management areas, making them available to the public in a protected, sustainable way. While state agencies provide much in the way of opportunities, not to be overlooked are cities and counties across the state which support and maintain thousands of local parks. These local parks, in many ways, are the backbone of outdoor recreation because they are used regularly and often by residents, for everything from team sports to picnicking and walking. Trails are one of the most popular outdoor recreation facilities in Arkansas, which is mirrored at a national level, too. Arkansas has many types of trails, including urban trails and greenways, water trails for canoeing, backcountry trails, equestrian trails, and accessible trails for persons with disabilities. These trails are used regularly, and throughout the year. Trails are often co- located with local parks and property reserved for public use, making significant recreation resources. SCORP Priorities Information from state resources, public input, agency perspectives and recreational trends was formulated into a set of Priorities for the SCORP. They are: • Align efforts to improve outdoor recreation with existing conservation, preservation and public good initiatives. • Improve access to, and quality of, health and fitness related recreational areas and facilities. • Improve the quality, accessibility, and availability of outdoor recreational resources on public lands and parks in a sustainable way. These priorities reflect important aspects of outdoor recreation development, and are intended to help guide state and local efforts when expanding or improving recreational facilities and programs. The priorities are made tangible through a set of strategies and actions written for each, which guide stakeholders’ activities in a positive direction. The SCORP is a valuable tool for all stakeholders in outdoor recreation, and illustrates a powerful collaboration across many agency and public interests. 5 CONTENTS Executive Summary………………………………………………………………..................... 4 Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………….................. 7 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………. 8 People - Engaging in Outdoor Recreation ………..…………………………………………. 10 Public Health and Outdoor Recreation……………………………………………… 16 Economics of Outdoor Recreation…………………………………………………... 22 Opportunities - The Supply of Recreation Activities and Facilities ……………………….. 25 Federal Agencies……………………………………………………………………… 25 State Agencies………………………………………………………………………… 26 Trails……………………………………………………………………………………. 33 Municipal and County Parks …..……………………………………………………. 37 Priorities .....…...……………………………………………………………………………….. 38 Appendices………………………………………………………………………………………. 41 Methodology…………………………………………………………………………….