About SCORP
Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)
A Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is a strategic planning document prepared by each U.S. state and territory to guide the future development and management of public outdoor recreation resources. The primary purpose of a SCORP is to maintain state eligibility for federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants, which provide matching funds for the acquisition and development of public parks and outdoor recreation sites.
Beyond this federal requirement, the plan serves to:
Establish Priorities: Identify and prioritize a state's outdoor recreation needs and guide the allocation of LWCF and state-level funds.
Guide Planning and Management: Serve as a planning guide for all public outdoor recreation in a state's urban and rural areas.
Inform Decisions: Provide state, tribal, and municipal officials with data on recreation trends, economic impacts, and resource inventories to make informed decisions.
Promote Public Health and Wellness: Emphasize the linkages between outdoor recreation, community health, and individual wellness benefits.
Ensure Equitable Access: Work towards ensuring a diverse and growing population has fair access to outdoor recreation spaces and opportunities.
Encourage Participation: Elevate public participation and engagement in outdoor recreation planning initiatives and issues through extensive public input processes.
Stakeholder input is a critical element in developing the next SCORP