Connecting Connecticut: 5th Annual Trails Symposium - CORA Presenting & Silver Sponsor
October 2023 - The Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance (CORA) is sponsoring an educational session at the Connecting Connecticut: 5th Annual Connecticut Trails Symposium on October 13, 2023. The session entitled, “Working Together to Grow the Outdoor Recreation Economy,” is described as follows: Thriving outdoor economies require partnerships and collaboration across the public and private sectors. Learn how the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation and Maine Outdoor Brands, along with other organizations and agencies, are working together to build, grow, and sustain the outdoor recreation economy at the state and local level.
The session will be facilitated by Carolann Ouelette, Director of Outdoor Recreation, State of Maine. Carolann was named the first director of the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation in 2018. A graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, her career has included time as a whitewater guide, outdoor resort operations manager, restaurant chef/owner, and from 2010-2016 the Director of the Maine Office of Tourism.
She serves on the Maine Sports Commission, Maine Gear Share, Maine Trails Coalition, USM Tourism & Hospitality Program, University of Maine Outdoor Leadership Program, and the Confluence of States. She is a winter sports, hiking and paddling enthusiast, working on her fishing and hunting skills, and an avid traveler.
Connecticut Trail Finder - CORA to Consult
September 2023 - As part of a one-year grant, CORA will work with the University of Connecticut Extension Program’s Connecticut Trail Finder project, to help identify businesses providing trailside events and services for inclusion on the website. Connecticut Trail Finder is a public website to provide information about and promote the use of trails in Connecticut.
Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan - Comments from CORA
September 2023
Dear Mr. Mike Lambert:
The Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance (CORA) is submitting comments regarding the 2023 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) process and draft goals. We applaud the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for undertaking and devoting resources to this arduous process. Additionally, we appreciate Akieba Hicks for her availability and outreach.
To ensure the final report is a benefit to the outdoor recreation community, below are some suggestions regarding the information gathering process and goals.
Advisory Board Composition
The entire process would be better served with a larger variety of viewpoints. Therefore, a concerted effort to include other state offices such as tourism, economic development, and public health could contribute to the process and provide information to further the goals decided upon by the SCORP committee. The recreational economy is growing in Connecticut and including entities such as ski resorts, adventure parks, and boating organizations, as well as the usual NGOs will add depth to the discussion. Many other states have SCORP advisory committees which have greater depth and variety of knowledge.
Communication
Regular meetings, at least once a month, would help the advisory committee monitor progress and adjust strategy. Some interest groups expressed frustration with the long periods between meetings. Additionally, having relevant meeting materials in advance of meetings will help foster productive discussions. Other states have webpages for the public and just for the advisory committee, which interested parties can refer to.
Surveys
We appreciate recent efforts to use surveys in different parks to increase randomization. However, we would like to see more questions directed to positive user experiences and outcomes. CORA would be happy to collaborate with DEEP on developing these questions. We just want to make sure our decisions are based on solid and unbiased survey data.
Draft Goals for 2023 SCORP
At the last meeting, four draft goals were presented: 1) DEI 2) Resource protection 3) Enhancing Visitor Experiences, and 4) Fostering Awareness and Relevancy of Benefits of Outdoor Recreation.
These four goals have much in common with other state’s SCORP’s, however, many SCORP’s now refer to economic development through the outdoor recreation industry which can include small businesses not directly in the recreation business such as an ice cream stand along a paved bike path. Some states are promoting festivals for biking and other recreational groups and have found that these “out of the box” activities bring much to the recreational experience. Recreational tourism is growing very rapidly and SCORP goals can provide the guidance needed to promote tourism and outdoor recreation economic development while protecting the beautiful and special environmental resources in Connecticut.
Another initiative in other states relates to health outcomes. COVID lockdowns have shown the demand for outdoor recreation. While it seems state park congestion and parking issues have eased, the demand for outdoor recreational experiences continues to increase. Developing a lifelong habit of getting outdoors for exercise and mental health throughout the lifespan is critical to population health.
We hope that the SCORP goals will incorporate avenues for public/private collaboration; meeting the demands of underserved recreational groups; creating and driving programming for DEI and groups who have not traditionally been accessing outdoor resources and activities; and incorporating goals that can be used to direct and guide a variety of governmental, nongovernmental, and private recreation and conservation entities.
We thank you for this opportunity to provide feedback on the 2023 SCORP.
Sincerely,
Paula Burton, President, Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance (CORA)
Pandemic’s Impact on Outdoor Recreation Employers
CORA is encouraging state and regional agencies to provide support for outdoor recreation business recovery and reinvestment in public outdoor recreation spaces. By some measures trail use, park visitations, and retail demand increased dramatically, but by other measures the outdoor recreation economy as a whole declined.
So what has been the experience for your company or organization? If you represent a business or nonprofit with employees, please take a few minutes to tell us how you have been positively or negatively impacted by - and adapted to - the pandemic. Thank you!
Letter to the Governor
Governor Lamont,
Connecticut’s outdoor industry accounts for $9B in consumer spending and 69,000 jobs. From boating to skiing to biking to hiking, Connecticut has tremendous outdoor recreation assets with unfulfilled potential. A group of businesses recently formed the Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance (CORA) to grow the state’s economy by elevating Connecticut’s brand as an outdoor recreation destination.
One of CORA’s initial goals is to institute formal representation within Connecticut’s government focused on promoting outdoor recreation in Connecticut. Other states, including our neighbors in NY, VT, NH and ME, are creating, or have created, similar offices. This position would market Connecticut’s outdoor resources and promote all economic efforts relating to the outdoor industry.
Will you support us in this initiative? We offer our advice and industry experience. Please view our full letter and list of supporters at ctoutdoors.org
In partnership,
Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance