What are State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans?

Each state's SCORP attempts to bring together the wants and needs of the recreation users and providers into a single, comprehensive document. This work can have a wide-ranging impact on recreation decisions and can be required for some federal funds.
 

Regardless if your project qualifies for that Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) funding, SCORPs are an important component for state agencies to assess and determine the state of recreation within its boundaries. This element goes beyond the federal funding requirement and leads to a multitude of recreation projects that fall outside the LWCF framework.

For example, Arizona's SCORP identified these goals:

• Establish Outdoor Recreation Priorities
• Set Criteria to Allocate Federal Funds
• Protect, conserve, and manage public lands, recreation spaces, and unique
  places for current and future generations.
• Encourage a highly integrated and connected outdoor recreation system.
• Ensure a diverse and growing population has access to outdoor recreation spaces and opportunities to enjoy a range of recreation activities.
• Communicate linkages between outdoor recreation, individual wellness benefits, community health, and a thriving economy.
• Elevate public participation and engagement in outdoor recreation planning initiatives and issues.

See SCORP examples and resources here.

To learn more and how to get involved in your state's SCORP process, check out the provided PDF.