Outdoor Recreation Continues to Fuel Economy Despite economic challenges brought on by COVID-19, a recent report from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) calculated that outdoor recreation generated $689 billion in gross output and 4.3 million jobs in communities across the country during a year of shutdowns and closures. Motorcycle and ATV riding was…
(Photo credit: Coalition for Recreational Trails) Top Trail Projects and a Terrific State Trail Program Chosen for Special Awards The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) has selected 12 trail projects and a state trail program to be recognized next month for outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program funds. The CRT awards, honoring former U.S. Representative Tom Petri,…
(Photo credit: NOHVCC) Register for NOHVCC’s Free Virtual Annual Conference Registration is now open for the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council’s (NOHVCC) free Virtual Annual Conference on October 15-16. The NOHVCC staff has prepared a virtual suite of presentations and opportunities to interact, guided by survey responses. NOHVCC hopes to have their in-person Annual Conference…
(Photo credit: American Trails) Increase in Funding for RTP Not Part of Senate Infrastructure Package In early August, the Senate passed a $550 billion infrastructure bill that included reauthorization of the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The Senate Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) included the congressionally directed Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimate but did not contain the…
(Photo credit: American Trails) ARRA Weighs In on Senate Infrastructure Package As the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works consider provisions for the infrastructure package, ARRA weighed in on that discussion. ARRA submitted a letter to the chairs and ranking members of the respective…
(Photo credit: NOHVCC) The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act Reintroduced On June 1, Rep. Joe Neguse, Chair of the U.S. Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, introduced H.R. 3670, the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, legislation which would simplify the permitting process for outdoor guides, outfitters, education organizations, and college and…
(Photo credit: American Trails) The 2021 RTP Achievement Awards Nominations Are Open The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT), representing the nation’s top trail-related organizations, announced plans for the 2021 Tom Petri Annual Achievement Awards recognizing outstanding trail projects funded by the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The RTP has dramatically enhanced the quantity and quality of…
(Photo credit: Oceano Dune Riders) MIC, SVIA, and ROHVA Respond to Recent California Coastal Commission Activities Citing dust control, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) wants to eliminate 66 acres of off-highway vehicle (OHV) riding and camping space at the historic Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. At an April 15 hearing, the commission voted to…
(photo: CA Parks) Coastal Commission Votes to End OHV Access at Oceano Dunes Despite an ARRA letter campaign, which generated more than 4,300 letters, the Coastal Commission voted unanimously at the March 18 meeting to end OHV activity at ODSVRA within three years. The original staff recommendation was to close ODSVRA to OHVs within five…
Outdoor Recreation Community Responds to Preserve Access at Oceano Dunes In response to California State Parks (PARKS) December 31, 2020 release of the Draft Public Works Plan (PWP) and Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA), the outdoor recreation community collectively demonstrated their opposition to the concerning…