What is SCORP?
To ensure continued service to current and future Georgians, the Department of Natural Resources’ Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division (PRHSD) formulates a comprehensive statewide recreation policy every five years. This policy is contained within the
Georgia Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), a plan that also makes the state eligible to receive and distribute federal funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). LWCF grants support state, county and city outdoor recreation projects in three categories: land acquisition, development and rehabilitation.
By Georgia Code 12-3-1, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is required to formulate a comprehensive recreation policy for the State.
In the formulation of this policy, the DNR is required to:
- Appraise recreational needs of the state and disseminate information relative to recreation.
- Cooperate in the promotion and organization of local government recreational systems-advise them in the planning of facilities and consult with them in the financing.
- Aid in recruiting, education and placing recreation workers and promoting recreation institutes and conferences.
- Help establish and promote recreation standards.
- Cooperate with public and private interests in promoting recreation opportunities.
- Submit a report of activities and recommendations to the Governor and notify the General Assembly of its availability.
A collaborative process . . .
PRHSD has partnered with the University of Georgia, local communities statewide and many other organizations to develop SCORP 2008 - 2013. Through this collaborative process we conducted a thorough assessment of Georgia’s outdoor recreation opportunities. SCORP 2008 – 2013 reflects the attitudes, needs, and priorities for and about outdoor recreation in Georgia as well as set the direction for the future of outdoor recreation statewide.
The University of Georgia Fanning Institute managed the project for the State. The Carl Vinson Institute of Government, UGA Institute of Ecology, UGA Warnell School of Forestry/ Natural Resources, Recreation and Tourism and UGA Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach also assisted with the project.
A SCORP advisory committee has been established and includes members representing GA DNR, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Georgia Municipal Association, Georgia Recreation and Parks Association, Friends of Georgia State Parks, Georgia Wildlife Federation, the Georgia Conservancy and others professionals and affiliated organizations.
A fully intergrated approach . . .
The SCORP 2008 - 2013 brings together:
- Extensive public involvement.
- A thorough inventory of all existing public-access land and water recreational facilities (federal, state, county and city; major quasi-public and private).
- An examination of social, demographic and recreation trends for Georgia based on data from the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment.
- Application of GIS technology to map important factors such as existing recreational areas and greenspace, important natural habitats, socio, demographic and economic trends, etc.
- Surveys of Georgians and stakeholders to determine supply, needs, demand and attitudes, and to establish priorities for future outdoor recreation actions and policies.
- Review and analysis of other guiding policy documents such as the 2003-2007 Georgia SCORP, Georgia Land Conservation Act, the Georgia Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, the Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites New Day, New Way Strategic Plan and other statewide or regional conservation and recreation plans including those developed by ACCG, GMA and others.
- Establishment of clear roles and responsibilities for public, quasi-public and private outdoor recreation service providers.
- Discussion of the benefits of outdoor recreation to include economic, health, natural and social.
- Recommendations regarding messaging and marketing of the benefits of outdoor recreation.
- Presentation of data so that it can be reported statewide and/or excerpted by local jurisdiction as well as by congressional and state legislative district.
- Clear short and long-term action priorities for policy directives, LWCF criteria and implementation options and recommendations.
- Discussion of issues and options to implement plan recommendations.