COMMUNITY INPUT SOUGHT ON STATEWIDE COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN

COMMUNITY INPUT SOUGHT ON STATEWIDE COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION PLAN

(Honolulu) – The DLNR Division of State Parks, in partnership with PBR HAWAII, invites the community to participate in updating Hawaiʻi’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).

Preparation of the SCORP every five years maintains Hawaiʻi’s eligibility to receive funds from the LWCF (Land & Water Conservation Fund). LWCF is a federal grant program administered by the National Park Service that assists states and local governments with the acquisition of recreational lands and the development and renovation of recreation facilities. Since 1967, the State of Hawaiʻi and the four counties have received more than $38 million in LWCF grants for the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation lands and facilities.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased participation in outdoor recreation, and local climate impacts, many of our outdoor recreation places and resources are undergoing significant changes in sustainability and public behavior. There is an increase in competing interests between recreational and cultural uses of recreation venues that are also part of a significant cultural landscape.

The 2021 update of the SCORP offers a timely opportunity to re-evaluate Hawaiʻi’s recreational needs and trends of statewide importance. Virtual meetings held in April and May will provide an opportunity for members of the community to identify and discuss recreation needs, trends, and priorities for the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation facilities.