Group Asks For Ideas to Strengthen Economic Impact of Vermont Recreation

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The Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) is hosting public forums around the state to gather feedback on ways to promote business opportunities, increase participation opportunities, and strengthen the quality, extent, and stewardship of the state’s recreational resources. The group will be in White River Junction on Monday, October 23 for an “open house” listening session at the Hartford Town Hall, 6-8pm. For those who cannot attend the in-person meeting, an online survey is available here.

UVLT has submitted comments focusing on three key areas: participation, sustainability and impacts/use conflicts.

What is VOREC?

The Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative is a Governor-appointed steering committee of Vermont businesses and non-profits including outdoor manufacturers, retailers, brand representatives, trail and user groups, as well as state government. The VOREC will:

  • Support efforts to market the outdoor recreation values and attributes of Vermont to effectively foster economic growth;
  • Examine and promote laws, policies and initiatives that encourage outdoor recreation business;
  • Strengthen stewardship of outdoor recreation resources and the organizations that support them;
  • Mobilize the members of the VOREC to develop and implement the initiatives of the VOREC and
  • Encourage, incentivize and guide the development of community-oriented outdoor recreation assets increasing economic impacts.
  • Align, share resources and strategies among stakeholders

UVLT and Vermont’s Recreation Economy

UVLT secures and promotes outdoor recreation on conserved easement land and on the lands we own.  More than 50 of the places we’ve conserved are open to the public for recreational use. Thousands of people enjoy UVLT trails and campsites.

UVLT has a broad perspective on the benefits and challenges that outdoor recreation presents to landowners (including ourselves), our communities, and importantly, the land itself. We led the drafting of the innovative West Windsor Town Forest conservation easement, which provides for outdoor recreation based economic development and the protection of significant natural resources. As the VOREC collects ideas and information about Vermont outdoor recreation, we’ll share our approach to land protection, together with our experience managing our own preserves, and sustaining a network of volunteers, supporters, and landowners who believe that accessible conservation land is a key component of vibrant communities.

We applaud the VOREC’s “open house” approach to engaging Vermonters in this important discussion. The comments we’ve submitted to the VOREC are here.