Updating Michigans State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 20082012: Trends and Implications for

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Updating Michigans State Comprehensive Outdoor
Recreation Plan 2008-2012 Trends and
Implications for Local UnitsDr. Chuck
NelsonMichigan State UniversityApril 13, 2009
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What is the SCORP?

• State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
• Five-year overarching plan for Michigans outdoor
  recreation direction
• Mandate to be eligible for federal Land and Water
  Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants
• Influences other federal/state cooperation
• Trails, wetlands, hydro electric relicensing
• Every local unit needs a community plan to be
  eligible for LWCF and MI Natural Resources Trust
  Fund grants

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Michigan LWCF History

• Over past 5 years
• 56 of MIs 12.7 million allocation granted to
  local units of government
• 44 to DNR
• All state and local allocated to development

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MI Natural Resources Trust Fund

• from oil/gas and other mineral royalties and
  leases on state owned lands
• In MI Constitution since 1984
• 75 or more of annual allocation to acquisition,
  25 or less to development
• Over past 5 years
• 138.1 million granted
• 52 to local government, 48 to state
• Of 33.6 million for development, 87 to locals
• Of 104.5 million for acquisition, 41 to locals

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Michigan Voter Survey Results

• Surveyed 2,001 randomly selected registered
  voters
• Sample size 1,799 (202 bad addresses)
• 460 (26) completed survey
• 51 - Outdoor Recreation very important to
  household

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Michigan Voter Survey Results

• More than half reported one or more in household
  who
• Walked outdoors
• Relax outdoors
• Drive for pleasure
• Sightsee
• Swim outdoors
• Picnic
• Fish
• Bicycle

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Michigan Voter Survey Results

• Most important outdoor recreation activities
• Walk outdoors
• Relax outdoors
• Fish
• Hunt
• Camp
• 75 - visited a public outdoor recreation venue
  in past 12 months
• 60 - state venue
• 53 - local park
• 23 - federal lands
• 38 - More than 10 MI outdoor rec visits in past
  12 months

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Michigan Voter Survey Results

• Strong support for all 2003-07 SCORP priorities
• Support for Conservation - Greatest
• 93-support
• 7 - neutral
• lt1 oppose
• Universal access, trails, community recreation,
  state parks, state forest recreation,
  cooperation/coordination
• Supported by at least 74

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Michigan Voter Survey Results

• 70 satisfied amount of public outdoor
  recreation
• 27 neutral, 3 dissatisfied
• 42 satisfied with quality of public outdoor
  recreation
• 39 neutral, 19 dissatisfied

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Michigan Voter Survey Results

• Suggestions by 5 or more to improve quality of
  outdoor recreation opportunity
• Better maintenance
• Better security/enforcement
• Keep fees stable or reduce
• Cleaner restrooms
• Cleaner surface waters

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Michigan Voter Survey Results

• What one action would encourage more outdoor
  recreation participation from your household?
• 24 reduce/eliminate fees
• 16 nothing/keep up the good work
• 8 better information/marketing
• 8 better trails
• 7 more land open for public outdoor recreation
• 5 more operations funding
• 5 more activities/programs

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Local Provider Survey Results

• 773 local providers surveyed
• 250 (32) completed survey
• Strong support for all 2003-07 SCORP priorities
• Support for Conservation was again greatest
• 96 support
• 4 neutral
• lt1 oppose
• Universal access, trails, community recreation,
  state parks, state forest recreation,
  cooperation/coordination supported by at least
  78

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Local Provider Survey Results

• Significant barriers to more citizen
  participation in outdoor recreation?
• Lack funding, especially for operations
• Lack facilities/public land
• Lack of accessibility
• High price/fees
• Lack awareness/info

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Local Provider Survey Results

• Most important capital projects in next 5 years
• Land based trails
• Picnic areas
• Playgrounds
• Universal access
• Outdoor fields/courts
• A number interested in spray park/splash pad

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Local Provider Survey Results

• Estimated 471 million capital needs 2008-12
• 304 million for development
• 81 million trails
• 80 million range of support facilities for parks
  
• 26 million universal access
• 24 million ball fields/courts
• 93 million all other
• 167 million for acquisition
• 113 million open space/conservation
• 25 million land based trails
• 17 million water access/blue trails
• 17 million all other

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Local Provider Survey Results

• Funding sources to meet capital needs
• Local general fund
• MNRTF/LWCF
• Transportation grants
• Dedicated millage
• Private foundations/donations
• Expected trends over the next 5 years in capital
  funding
• Decline in local general fund dollars
• Increasing reliance on other sources

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Local Provider Survey Results

• Trends in operations funding
• 152 million total parks operations budget in
  2007
• 64 of total from local general fund
• 36 from fees, millages, donations, etc.
• 83 had some general fund
• 46 some user fees
• 36 some donations
• 15 some millage

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Local Provider Survey Results

• Expected trends over next 5 years
• Decline in local general fund
• Increase in all other sources
• Hardest hit in general fund reduction are cities
• Least hit townships
• Cities by almost 21 margin expect park and
  recreation operations budgets and number of
  employees to decline
• Amount of park land expected to grow slightly
  faster in 2008-12
• Greatest increases at regional and township
  levels

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Thank You!Questions?
Contact Dr. Chuck Nelson at Dept. Community,
Agriculture, Recreation Resource
Studies Michigan State University nelsonc_at_msu.edu
[phone]