OLYMPIA — The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board is asking for public comment on a draft plan for outdoor recreation priorities.
The board has a draft statewide recreation and conservation plan that is meant to be a guide for decision-makers when they prioritize recreation and conservation efforts for the next five years. The plan includes specific priorities and actions to meet the outdoor recreation needs of Washington residents.
Comments are due Sept. 10. Staff will analyze the comments and make recommendations for changes to the draft plan at the funding board’s October meeting in Olympia.
The public can view the draft plan at www.rco.wa.gov/StateRecPlans.
Comments can be submitted directly from the website, by emailing them to policychanges@rco.wa.gov or mailing them to the Recreation and Conservation Office, P.O. Box 40917, Olympia, WA 98504.
“This plan was based on a new survey of Washingtonians. We asked residents what they liked to do outdoors,” said Kaleen Cottingham, director of the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, which supports the board and administers state recreation and conservation grant funds.
“We know that funding is limited, and we want to ensure that we make the most strategic investments possible.”
Specifically, the plan calls for these priorities:
• Sustain and grow the legacy of parks, trails and conservation lands.
This priority includes five recommendations to sustain existing parks, trails and conservation lands, as well as addressing expansion of opportunities to keep up with the outdoor needs of a growing population.
• Improve equity of parks, trail and conservation lands.
Four recommendations address the needs of traditionally underserved populations. It also focuses on providing opportunities that are in high demand and located where people like to go most.
• Meet the needs of youths.
Providing recreation facilities and programming for youths is the focus of this priority.
• Plan for culturally relevant parks and trails to meet changing demographics.
The demographics of the state are changing. This priority addresses the need to shift resources.
• Position outdoor recreation and conservation as a vital public service.
To compete with limited funding, this priority identifies ways to position outdoor recreation and conservation as a service that is on par with such other public services as roads, water, sewer and health.
