Outdoor Adventure Commission previews draft strategic plan, schedules regional workshops and outlines new project-prioritization process

Representative Stenquist, chairing the Utah Outdoor Adventure Commission, opened the meeting and framed the body’s new role in overseeing funding and prioritization after recent legislative changes.

Dr. Smith, a Utah State presenter, delivered the commission’s strategic-planning update and described four proposed “cardinal directions” to guide the plan: building cross-agency partnerships; improving responsible-recreation awareness and education; developing infrastructure that meets demand while conserving landscapes; and increasing economic benefits for less-populated but heavily visited destinations. “What we are proposing to be the core of that strategic plan,” Dr. Smith said, describing how each direction will be supported by objectives and tiered policies, projects and programs.

The planning team has completed two substantive reports—a statewide funding analysis that mapped existing state funding flows for outdoor recreation and a comparative analysis across western states—and is assembling a comprehensive inventory of recreation assets and demand projections. Dr. Smith said those reports will be posted on the Division of Outdoor Recreation website and will feed a shorter strategic-plan document that the Commission aims to present in draft form in mid-July.

Commissioners discussed several policy points the workshops will test, including how to manage crowding in high-use areas and how to direct economic benefits to rural counties experiencing heavy visitation. Dr. Smith emphasized concentrating new infrastructure investments where there is existing demand and some infrastructure in place (for example, parts of the Central Wasatch) rather than expanding development into remote landscapes.

Commission staff described plans to launch a spring workshop series organized by the state’s Association of Governments (AOG) regions; two commission members will be asked to attend each regional session to solicit local policies, projects and programs to populate the plan. "We're about ready to launch our spring workshop series," Dr. Smith told commissioners, noting the Richfield kickoff following the Utah Trails Forum.

On funding and project selection, staff outlined a proposed Recreation Coordinated Investment Initiative (nicknamed “Recce” in the meeting) to provide a centralized, transparent process for prioritizing statewide and regionally significant projects. Jason (staff) described statutory requirements from recent legislation that designate staff and require an approval process; Patrick Morrison has been selected to administer the initiative and will convene federal and local partners to build project lists and proposal templates. “Recreation Coordinated Investment Initiative, or as I've started calling it, Recce,” Jason said while outlining initial steps.

Commissioners and staff emphasized distinguishing the new initiative from existing UR grant programs: the initiative is intended for larger regional or statewide projects (and may allow some maintenance or shared-stewardship matches), while UR grants will remain oriented to locally driven capital projects with matching requirements. Dr. Smith recommended using AOG regions to solicit a small number of prioritized proposals from each region to avoid favoring better-resourced applicants.

The chair also noted the Commission’s new oversight role in allocating a portion of recently appropriated funds and directing the Commission’s recommendations to the Legislature; staff discussed scheduling a July meeting after the workshop series to present a full draft plan.

Votes at a glance: Director Curry moved to approve the December and March minutes; Pitt seconded, and the chair called a voice vote that registered unanimous approval.

The Commission will reconvene after the spring workshops to review stakeholder input and a full draft strategic plan in July.