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The Center for Community Engagement and Social Research (CCESR) at Central Connecticut State University (Central) will lend its expertise to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) as it drafts the state’s 2023-2028 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).
The SCORP will evaluate the supply and demand of outdoor recreation resources in Connecticut while identifying outdoor recreation issues of statewide importance. The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund requires states to complete a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan every five years to remain eligible for funding and to ensure wise use of the grant awards.
To better support DEEP’s data collection efforts and ensure ample opportunity for public participation, the faculty, staff, and students at the Center for Community Engagement and Social Research will conduct four outdoor recreation surveys. Data collection for three of the surveys — the Avid Outdoor Enthusiast Survey, the Statewide Demand Survey, and the 169 Municipalities Survey — is now underway.
This spring, CCESR will also release a survey to capture feedback from current recreationalists. The Center will collect more than 2,000 surveys to assess and update public outdoor recreation resources in state parks, state forests, wildlife management areas, and state boat launches. These surveys will be used to better understand recreation habits, establish baseline demographic information, identify needs, and establish economic impacts of outdoor recreationalists during the spring and summer recreation season.
CCSER’s collaboration with DEEP exemplifies the Center’s mission to engage CCSU students and the community in meaningful projects and outreach efforts for the greater good.
A draft of the 2023-2028 SCORP will be available for public review and comment later this year. Additional information will be shared online at http://www.ct.gov/deep/scorp or for questions or comments about the Recreation Plan, contact DEEP at deep.scorp@ct.gov. For inquiries about the data collection for SCORP, contact the CCESR at CCESRfeedback@ccsu.edu. Funding for this project is provided by DEEP Bureau of Outdoor Recreation.