Information gathered from online recreation survey will help create better outdoor opportunities for Rhode Islanders and visitors
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning are reminding residents that they can participate in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation (SCORP) Survey through Friday, March 29. The online survey takes only a few minutes to complete and is available on DEM's website. Feedback will be used to inform the SCORP to help create improved outdoor opportunities for residents and visitors and prioritize funding for future outdoor recreation projects over the next five years.
The survey is open to all Rhode Islanders interested in outdoor recreation and provides them with an opportunity to share their thoughts about outdoor recreation preferences and demand: Do you fish, camp, bike, hike, walk, or skateboard? What kinds of outdoor activities would you like to do more often? What would get you outside more often?
The survey is one of the final steps in the public outreach component of the SCORP. From October through January, eight listening sessions were held across Rhode Island to solicit feedback on specific focus areas such as boating/paddling/shoreline access; trails/mountain biking; parks/playground/urban recreation; health; general recreation; and biking. At these sessions, participants shared their thoughts and experiences about what is working, what could be improved, and what is missing in the state's outdoor recreation network.
Enlisting public feedback for the 2019 SCORP update builds upon the work of the Outdoor Recreation Council convened by Governor Raimondo in 2016 to develop an actionable vision for promoting and growing outdoor recreation in Rhode Island. The Council's Final Report highlights the importance of the recreational network to Rhode Island's economic and cultural vitality. Rhode Island is home to a wealth of historic parks, beaches, bikeways, and other recreational facilities. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation in Rhode Island generates $2.4 billion in consumer spending and supports 24,000 jobs each year. A 2017 study conducted by the University of Rhode Island found that State-managed parks and bikeways alone contribute $311 million to the economy annually and support over 3,700 jobs and nine million visits.
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