Aerial park illustration depicting paths and trees

Project PackMaster Plan

Master Plan

You’re thinking big picture. There are many outdoor recreation areas in your community, and you want to make sure they connect with one another and with your downtown businesses.

In this Project Pack, you will create a strategic master plan for local outdoor recreation that identifies opportunities and accelerates improvements by mapping the landscape, engaging the public and implementing change. Soon, your community will transform your outdoor recreation assets into a valuable economic resource.

Tools for Master Plans

Recreation in Your Community

To create a master plan of your community's recreational assets, it is crucial to understand the locations, conditions, and uses of local outdoor recreation activities and infrastructure. Mapping exercises and public engagement can help reveal this information.

Outdoor Recreation Activity and Asset Inventory

List the existing outdoor recreation assets and how they are used.

Maps of Outdoor Recreation

Identify local outdoor recreation assets using existing base maps and learn to create maps of your community with free or low-cost mapping tools.

Environmental Data on Maps

Map systems and surroundings of outdoor recreation assets, such as natural resources or businesses.

Local Tourism Economy

Extend mapping scope to consider businesses, accommodations, services, events, and other factors within the wider region.

Steering Committee Guidance

Create a steering committee and facilitate meetings.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement Guidance

Establish stakeholders, conduct public meetings, and develop the community vision for local outdoor recreation.

Survey Question Bank

Learn how to survey the community as a form of public outreach.

Time to Plan

Once you know what you are working with, you can begin to build out plans for improving, growing, and maintaining your local outdoor recreation scene. Through minimizing the environmental impacts, illuminating shared goals through iterative community feedback, guiding priorities through realistic cost estimations, and other planning initiatives, this step shapes the vision for your community's future outdoor recreation.

Natural Resources Guide

Ensure the development and maintenance of outdoor recreation is environmentally responsible.

Model Project Application and Review

Complete the project application process and ensure that recreation opportunities are created in an environmentally responsible manner.

Interpretation, Education, and Programming Guidance

Explore opportunities for interpretation, education, and programming around natural and cultural assets.

Recreation Improvement Database

Identify the potential costs associated with outdoor recreation improvements.

Strategy and Planning Templates

Work with the steering committee to implement the visioning framework, set priorities, and choose an appropriate plan scale.

Tying it All Together

With plans in place and the community on board, it is time to implement improvements and maintenance for your local outdoor recreation scene. This process involves planning efforts such as marketing your community, designing and building thoughtful trails, ensuring accessible transportation, establishing funding opportunities, and hiring consultants.