Table of Contents Acknowledgements... iii Executive Summary... 1 Planning Methodology and Limitations of the SCORP... 1

(1)

New

Mexi

co

St

at

e

Par

ks

St

at

ewi

de

Compr

ehensi

ve

Out

door

Recr

eat

i

on

Pl

an

(

SCORP)

(2)

Table

of

Acknowledgements

The preparation of this plan was financed in part through a Land

and Water Conservation Fund planning grant, and the plan was

approved by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the

Interior under the provisions for the Federal Land and Water

Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (Public Law 88‐578).

The New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals & Natural

Resources acknowledges the significant contributions made by

those who committed their time and expertise to help update New

Mexico’s official Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation

Plan. Many agencies, organizations, and individuals, as indicated on

this page have made particularly valuable contributions to this

document.

Lastly, we wish to recognize the countless hours devoted to the

SCORP by the staff of the New Mexico State Parks Division, Dave

Simon, State Parks Director; Dave Gatterman, Bureau Chief, Design

and Development; Christy Tafoya, Education & Resource Protection

Program Manager; Cynthia Lovely, Parks Planner, and the writing

and editorial contributions of Maurice (Moses) A. Mondary, Grants

Manager /Trails Administrator and State Liaison Officer, Field

Support Bureau, New Mexico State Parks Division.

SCORP

Advisory

Committee

Bob Anderson, Chief, Recreation Grants Division, NPS, Omaha Office Jane Beu, Outdoor Recreation Planner, NPS, Omaha Office Ed Chismar, Director Parks and Recreation Department, Bernalillo County, President‐Elect, New Mexico Recreation & Park Association Jay Hart, (Past) Director Parks and Recreation Department, City of Albuquerque, NM Kim Elliott, Director Parks and Recreation Department, Roswell, NM Rob Carter, Director Parks and Recreation Department, Clovis, NM

Thanks to our Outdoor Recreation Partners:

USDA ‐ Forest Service

Bureau of Land Management

Bureau of Reclamation

National Park Service

Army Corp of Engineers

New Mexico State Game and Fish

New Mexico State Land Office

New Mexico Wilderness Alliance

New Mexico State Department of Tourism

Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI)

“New Mexico ‐‐ the Land of Enchantment”

New Mexico State Parks: Short Trips. Long Memories; Your Best Recreation Value Close to Home

(5)

2010 – 2014 Statewide Comprehensive

Outdoor Recreation Plan

(SCORP) Executive Summary

(6)

Executive

Summary

Planning

Methodology

and

Limitations

of

the

SCORP

The goal of the 2010‐2014 SCORP was to create a comprehensive

statewide plan that compared the results of a statewide community

survey of outdoor parks and recreation usage, needs, and barriers,

with an extensive inventory of recreational trails, wetlands, and

outdoor recreation facilities from all providers for outdoor

recreation programs and facilities in New Mexico, including

nonprofit and private providers. One of the end results was to be a

verified inventory of all federal, state, county, municipal, and local

providers in one database that could then be mapped and analyzed

for capacity and level of service.

Unfortunately, due to staff vacancies in the Grant Section of the

New Mexico State Parks, a one‐year extension of the existing SCORP

was needed to complete the update process by December 31, 2009.

However, a delayed contracting process further eroded the process,

making it difficult to get the New Mexico SCORP underway. This left

a compressed project timeline with a fast track schedule of roughly

six months to conduct the necessary meetings, surveys, and to

update the inventory in order to complete the SCORP by December

31, 2009.

Therefore, a decision was made to use the time available to lay the

foundation for future, more comprehensive, data collection ‐ the

rationale being that this approach would be the most effective first

step toward what is ultimately targeted to be a more complete and

accurate accounting of the outdoor recreation resources of all

suppliers. For the next SCORP update, an earlier start‐up date,

improved comprehensive project planning, increased project scope,

and a more generous timeline will be dedicated to advertising and

promoting the benefits of participating in the SCORP steering

process, stakeholder and community meetings, user surveys, and

the inventory updating process. This will hopefully result in an

opportunity to enhance the data collection and verification by

allowing for better face‐to‐face contact on a statewide level with

the federal, state, county, municipal, and local providers in New

Mexico.

Public

Meetings

and

Focus

Groups

April 27‐29, 2009 ‐ Northern Portion of the State:

(Farmington, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, and Santa Rosa)

June 1‐5, 2009 ‐ Southern Portion of the State:

(Roswell, Las Cruces, and Socorro)

The following questions were discussed:

 What do you value about outdoor recreation in New Mexico?

 What is your future vision regarding outdoor recreation?

 What are the barriers to service?

 Who are the private and nonprofit providers?

 What new things have you seen in outdoor parks and

recreation lately?

 In terms of outdoor recreation, what would be good for the

whole community?

(7)

2 State of New Mexico Outdoor recreation resources and opportunities are extremely

important to those that attended. The impact of these amenities

and services on people’s quality of life, environmental issues, and

healthy living makes outdoor recreation an essential service to

citizens. New Mexico boasts many diverse types of activities and

environments. As a result, outdoor recreation services contribute

greatly to the State’s economy.

Statewide

Community

Survey

Four separate outreach efforts were used to conduct the

community survey portion of the outdoor recreation needs

assessment, which included:

 A statistically‐valid Random Sample Survey mailed to 8,000

statewide residents with a postage‐paid return envelope

addressed to the survey firm RRC Associates in Boulder, CO

with a password protected online web option.

 A survey mailed to Land and Water Conservation Fund

(LWCF) agency database of those who have received this

type of Federal funding in New Mexico.

 Open‐Link Web Survey on the New Mexico State Parks

website.

 Sovereign Nations outreach including 500 surveys

proportioned by population to the Navajo Nation agencies

and chapters, Pueblos, and Apache tribes.

Federal

Funding

for

Outdoor

Recreation

Federal funds for outdoor recreation are made available through

the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). States are eligible

for these funds based upon approval of SCORP. In New Mexico, the

agency responsible for SCORP is the State Parks Division of the

Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD). The

division uses the funds to help state, local, and tribal governments

acquire, develop, and rehabilitate recreation facilities and

resources.

In the last 40 years, New Mexico has received almost $41 million

from the LWCF program. Those grants have leveraged an additional

$41 million from state, local, and tribal governments through

matching funds for a total of $82 million invested in outdoor

recreation. One hundred percent (100%) of all counties in New

Mexico have benefited from LWCF funding since 1965.

Trends Impacting Outdoor Recreation:

• Health and Obesity

• Need for Diverse Recreation Opportunities

• Urban and Rural Recreation

• Growing Support for Outdoor Recreation

• Diminished Connection to Nature

Compelling Trends:

New Mexicans’ increasingly sedentary lifestyles and

disconnection from nature are resulting in alarming health

declines and a diminished conservation ethic.

State

of

New

Mexico

Health

and

Obesity

Trends

The obesity epidemic and healthy aging are critical issues facing

New Mexicans. In addition, it appears that projects that are “close

to home” may have the greatest statewide appeal. Therefore,

smaller local projects, trail connections, fishing ponds and river

access, restrooms, trailheads, and looped park trails may provide

the largest community reach and provide additional opportunities

for healthy and active lifestyles. Nature deficit disorder and

connecting children to nature are critical issues facing New

Mexicans.

(8)

The Center for Disease Control reported that New Mexico had a 24

percent obesity rate for adults in 2007. Obesity is defined as having

a body mass index of greater than or equal to 30 percent of total

body weight. Further, the United Health Foundation has ranked

New Mexico 29th in its 2007 State Health Rankings. This is up nine

rankings from 2006.

The State’s strengths include:

 Strong per capita public health funding.  Low levels of air pollution.

 Low rates of cancer deaths and cardiovascular deaths.

Some of the challenges the State faces include:  High rate of uninsured population.  Low high school graduation rate.  High violent crime rate.

According to the

NM Department of Health’s, The State of Health

in New Mexico 2009, Weight Status, “In 2007, significantly fewer

high school students in New Mexico were obese (10.9%) than

nationally (13.0%). In addition, fewer New Mexico high school

students were overweight (13.5%) than high school students

nationally (15.8%). [However] This difference is driven mainly by

lower rates among non‐Hispanic White students in New Mexico,

who experience the lowest rate of weight problems (combined

obesity and overweight: 18.6%), followed by Hispanic (26.0%) and

American Indian students (32.4%).

Over 60% of New Mexican adults were overweight or obese (35.7%

and 25.1%, respectively) compared with over 62% nationally (36.6%

overweight and 26.3% obese) in 2007. Over the last decade, the

rates of overweight and obesity have increased across the nation as

well as in New Mexico. Among subpopulations, American Indian

(32.8%) and Hispanic (30.0%) adults in the state experience

significantly higher obesity rates than non‐Hispanic White (20.5%).”

Economic

Impact

of

Obesity

“An estimated $324 million is spent in New Mexico annually on

medical expenditures that are attributable to obesity in adults, with

$52 million spent within the Medicare population and $84 million in

the Medicaid population. The economic burden of obesity suggests

that environmental and policy changes that reduce barriers to being

physically active and choosing healthful foods and beverages are

required in communities and at schools and work sites, and in the

food industry and health care systems throughout the state.”1 Urbanization and Rural demographic shifts are creating a greater

demand for outdoor recreation opportunities and the need for

diverse recreational offerings.

New

Mexico

Demographics

These are some factors that drive the need for diverse recreation

opportunities:

 Roughly seven percent of the residents are under five years

of age, while over 25 percent are under 18 years old.  Almost 13 percent are 65 years and older, and this group

will be increasing at a fast rate. Current population

projections suggest that this group will grow .7 percent by

the year 2013.

 Over 30 percent of residents earn below $25,000 a year,

with approximately 43 percent earning less than $35,000.  It is estimated that almost 18 percent of the population falls

below the poverty line, almost five percent more than the

nation.

 Almost 11 percent of the population are Native American

Indians living on or off of a reservation, pueblo, or on tribal

land, as compared with the United States average of one

percent.

1

(9)

4 State of New Mexico

 Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin represent over 44

percent of the population versus 15 percent for the nation.

The demographic profile of recreation users also emerged as a

possibly important planning issue. Concern was expressed for both

the potential challenges of providing recreational activities for the

aging baby‐boomers as well as the need to provide more facilities

and activities for youth. Around the state, outdoor recreation was

viewed as critical to positive youth development. It plays an

important role in both providing youth with positive outlets for their

energy as well as instilling an outdoor environmental ethic at an

early age. On the opposite side of the age spectrum, providing for

an increasingly active but growing senior population means

retrofitting existing areas to accommodate the different needs of

this population segment.

Recreation

in

Urban

and

Rural

Areas

New Mexico is the 5th largest state in land area with approximately

122,000 square miles. The 2000 Census shows New Mexico ranked

at 36th with a total population of 1,819,046. Approximately one‐

third of the population lives in the urbanized area of Albuquerque,

Bernalillo County, and Sandoval County (Rio Rancho and Corrales).

Approximately one‐third of the population lives in small to medium

urban clusters ranging from 2,500 to over 100,000 residents. These

urban clusters are scattered around the state with the largest

concentration in Southeastern New Mexico. The remainder of the

state’s population largely lives in areas very rural in nature.

There is a difference between outdoor recreation planning issues

for urbanized and rural areas. For New Mexico’s smaller and more

rural communities, the lack of fiscal as well as human resources

makes the provision of outdoor recreation opportunities

challenging. For these communities, the Land and Water

Conservation Fund is one of the few known funding sources for

outdoor recreation investments. However, because of the limited

budgets for smaller communities, the 50/50 match required by the

LWCF can pose a hardship.

Of further concern to funding agencies, however, is that the lack of

human and fiscal capacity for smaller communities complicates both

the creation of new recreational areas and maintenance of existing

ones. While LWCF might provide a temporary solution for a small

community struggling to add a trail or recreational facility, LWCF

cannot solve the long term problem of local municipalities’ fiscal

challenges with recreation area maintenance and land stewardship.

Economic

Impact

of

State

Parks

and

Outdoor

Recreation

 According to NM State Parks Division data, “Seventy

percent of New Mexicans live within 40 miles of a State

Park. “

 Forty percent of New Mexico’s state residents participate in

wildlife‐associated recreation, both inside and outside of

New Mexico.

 Outdoor recreation supports 47,000 jobs across New

Mexico and generates $184 million in annual New Mexico

state tax revenue.

 The outdoor recreation industry produces $2.75 billion

annually in retail sales and services across New Mexico –

accounting for 4.6% of gross state product.

 Visitors to the New Mexico State Parks have been steadily

increasing since 2005.

(10)

Except for those with direct economic interests, people often fail to

consider the importance that outdoor recreation holds for local

economies. In parts of New Mexico, outdoor recreation and tourism

have long played an important economic development role. Many

of New Mexico’s smaller and more rural communities are “gateway

communities” that are located near an access point to an outdoor

recreation site such as the national forest, a reservoir, ski area or

historic site and usually derive a good measure of their community

income from supporting outdoor recreation activities through

lodger’s taxes, gross receipts taxes, and employment in businesses

that sell supplies or provide hospitality services.

Need for a Statewide Trail System That Promotes Recreation and

Healthy Lifestyles.

According to New Mexico Statute, “The purpose of the State Trails

System Act [16‐3‐1 to 16‐3‐9 NMSA 1978] is to provide public access

to, and the enjoyment and appreciation of, the New Mexico

outdoors in order to conserve, develop, and use the natural

resources of the state for purposes of health and recreation. It is the

intent and purpose of the State Trails System Act to encourage

horseback riding, hiking, bicycling, and other recreational

activities. “

Once again, trails are an important issue for the residents of New

Mexico. According to the 2010‐2014 SCORP survey question What

About Trails, respondents were asked to indicate how important

various aspects of trail improvements in New Mexico were to them

and their household. Eight of the nine categories were rated

relatively important to the respondents overall, with 56 to 66

percent responses of 4 or 5 “very important” on the 5‐point scale.

At the same time, a certain percentage of the population (generally

around 20%) considered most of the trail amenities as not

important (ratings of 1 or 2).

Rated highest was providing trail amenities (benches, trash

containers, drinking fountains, dog pick‐up bag dispensers, signage,

etc.—66% very important). Next was improving trail maintenance

(64%), improving trail connectivity between towns and

neighborhoods (63%), building neighborhood trails (62%), adding or

expanding trailheads (60%), building more soft surface trails (58%),

improving trail connectivity to regional trails outside of your town

(58%), and building regional trail systems (56%). Rated lowest was

building more paved trails (43% very important and 40% not

important).

The USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, NM State Parks,

Department of Tourism Scenic Byways and local and tribal

governments all have efforts underway to provide recreational and

historical trails within their areas of responsibility. Within New

Mexico the popularity of multi‐use trails has increased the demand

for more open space and trails, especially near urban areas.

However, there is no statewide coordinated plan to interconnect

the trails on a statewide basis.

There is a trail effort underway that has the potential to provide

connectivity across a major portion of the state. That initiative is the

Rio Grande Trail (RGT).

Rio

Grande

Trail

(RGT)

The Rio Grande, a true American river, is the second largest river

system in the country. Of its over 1,800 total miles, nearly 500 miles

of the Rio Grande form the heart of New Mexico—the primary

drainage feature and the state’s most valuable natural and cultural

resource. The Rio Grande is a precious lifeline that connects nature,

history, culture, and communities across millennia.

(11)

1

Promote the Livability of

All Communities

Through

Health and Fitness

One relatively newer use and benefit from the Rio Grande is

recreation. The river and its bosque attract and sustain a wide

variety of recreation—from hunting and fishing to river rafting to

hiking, biking, and horseback riding. In many ways, human

recreation in the river corridor also provides a vital connection to

experiencing and appreciating the river, and educating the public

about its past, present, and future.

In June 2006, Governor Bill Richardson and New Mexico State Parks,

which administers the State Trails System Act, proposed the

establishment of the RGT, which would roughly parallel the Rio

Grande. The basic infrastructure of the trail already exists in many

locations via the levee systems and informal trail networks of the

irrigation districts and on some publicly owned land. The New

Mexico Legislature has provided limited funding in order to begin

planning and development of the project.

A multi‐use trail along the Rio Grande has the potential to replicate

successful long‐distance trails in other states. Trails increase

opportunities for healthy living and create a sense of community in

the areas through which they pass. Long‐distance trails often serve

locally as venues for community activities, fundraisers and other

special events, while long‐distance trail users in need of supplies,

lodging and food boost riverside community economies. Trails that

connect schools, businesses, and parks provide environmentally

friendly alternative transportation and offer increased fitness

opportunities. Trails that follow waterways can easily provide

fishing and boating access as well as a parallel water trail for canoes

and kayaks. Finally, trail‐based interpretation efforts could

reconnect the public to the significance of the river and go hand‐in‐

hand with the restoration, protection and beautification of the

riparian corridor.

Additionally, the RGT would provide a foundation to connect with

other area and community trails along the proposed corridor. A

major challenge is the cost of the RGT is estimated at close to $200

million.

Priorities

and

Recommendations

It is imperative for local, state, and federal governments to work

collaboratively with private sector organizations to secure a future

where New Mexicans live healthier lifestyles, the economic well

being of communities is sustained, and wildlife and natural

resources are conserved.

3

Properly Use and

Conserve Natural Resources

2

Enhance Economic Vitality

4

Developing a Statewide Trail System

(12)

Priority

1 ‐

Promote

the

Livability

of

All

Communities

Through

Health

and

Fitness

Key

Recommendations:

 Rehabilitate, update, and upgrade existing public outdoor

recreation facilities to maximize public participation.

 Continued expansion or development of new multi‐use urban

trails networks.

 Improve access to outdoor recreation resources and facilities by

establishing parks to develop programs that promote health

and livability and to incorporate those programs into state and

local outdoor recreation.

 Create more opportunities for youth to engage in outdoor

activities.

 Attend to segments of the population that are under‐served by

existing facilities (e.g., seniors, young adults, Latinos, and Native

American populations).

 Work with statewide organizations such as the Department of

Health, Department of Human Services, New Mexico Recreation

and Park Association, and others to develop programs that

promote health and livability.

 Build more outdoor classrooms, trails, and playgrounds

featuring outdoor recreation skills.

Priority

2 –

Enhance

Economic

Vitality

Key

Recommendations:

 Continue to promote outdoor recreation events, programs, and

facilities that attract day travelers and overnight visitation by

creating partnerships with businesses such as convention and

visitor bureaus, recreation equipment vendors, and guide

services.

 Conduct new or update existing research on the economic

benefits of outdoor recreation in New Mexico.

 Increase education/knowledge of the benefits/values of

outdoor recreation in terms of economic impact.

 Rehabilitate, update, and upgrade existing public outdoor

recreation facilities to maximize marketability.

Priority

3 ‐

Properly

Use

and

Conserve

Natural

Resources

Key

Recommendations:

 Develop structured and coordinated planning methods,

networking opportunities, and advocacy efforts for outdoor

recreation issues, resources, and management to better serve

all providers.

 Develop a dynamic, comprehensive inventory of all outdoor

recreation amenities, including federal, state, and local trails

and facilities, using GIS to identify areas lacking access to public

parks.

 Expand the SCORP inventory of outdoor recreation resources

and other GIS databases to identify lands suitable for

conservation.

 Identify and prioritize key lands for acquisition that will

conserve natural areas, expand, and enhance the current State

Park system.

 Identify and prioritize key lands for acquisition that will

conserve natural areas, particularly in the fastest growing areas

of the state.

 Increase/improve communication/collaboration between

providers and partners.

 Increase education/knowledge of the benefits /values of

outdoor recreation in terms of human character and health.

(13)

Priority

4 –

Develop

a

Statewide

Trail

Network

That

Facilitates

Recreation,

Transportation

and

Healthy

Lifestyles

Key

Recommendations:

 Support the ongoing legislation to update the State Trails Act

into a comprehensive mandate for trails.

 Provide trails that connect neighborhoods, schools, shopping

areas and workplaces within communities.

 Provide connections between existing trails, or closes a gap

within an existing trail system.

 Build trails that access open spaces or, provide access to remote

areas (parks, forests, game lands, etc.).

 Provide convenient trailheads and access points.

Critical

Ingredients

for

Success

Commitment

Engage in collaboration among agencies with common missions to

develop the synergy needed for all New Mexicans to have access to

quality outdoor recreation resources that meet their needs.

Key

strategies

include:

• Pursue and support the ongoing legislation to update the

State Trails Act into a comprehensive mandate for

establishing and funding trails in New Mexico.

• Pursue Outdoor Recreation Partnerships to strengthen

implementation of the priorities from SCORP.

• Enhance ENMRD SPD efforts to provide statewide recreation

research, planning, and technical assistance services.

• Explore alternative funding sources, ways to improve service

delivery, and means to maximize the benefits that outdoor

recreation has on local communities.

Education

Pursue cooperation and collaborations to share tools and resources

to conserve recreation lands and provide high quality opportunities

for all. By heightening the awareness of recreation’s benefits for

community health and livability, economic vitality, and conservation

of our natural resources, we will elevate the priority of outdoor

recreation with policymakers, planners, practitioners, partners, and

the public.

(14)

Key

strategies

include:

• Provide balanced interpretation, education, and outdoor

recreation programs to expand the knowledge and appreciation of

New Mexico’s natural and recreational resources in a manner

consistent with the conservation of the resource.

• Work with the Public Education Department to advance healthy

lifestyles and natural resource conservation in New Mexico’s

classrooms.

Funding

We must act now to use funds efficiently at all levels of

government, leverage with other private and non‐profit

investments and seek consistent funding to guarantee

outdoor recreation for current and future generations.

Key

strategies

include:

• Work with the Governor’s Office, state legislative leaders, and

other funding agencies to maximize existing funds and

develop new funding resources that support state and local

recreation land acquisition, conservation and development,

rehabilitation, and maintenance projects.

• Pursue full permanent funding for NMSA1978, 16‐1‐2, State

Supplemental Land and Water Conservation Fund.

• Pursue permanent funding through reauthorizing, updating

the Laws 1973, Chapter 372; NMSA1978, 16‐3‐1, State Trails

System Act to include creation of Section 8, State Trails

System Fund.

• Create and sustain partnerships to minimize reliance on tax

revenues to support the operation and maintenance of public

parks and outdoor recreation areas.

• Advocate for the continuation of state and local funding

assistance through the Land and Water Conservation Fund

program and other federal programs that support outdoor

recreation opportunities in New Mexico.

(15)

2010 – 2014 Statewide Comprehensive

Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)

(16)

Foreword

Under the terms of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act

(LWCF) of 1965 that established the LWCF State Assistance

Program, each state is required to develop a Statewide

Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) at least every five

years. The intent of this plan is to justify state and federal

expenditures for outdoor recreation based upon an analysis of the

following criteria. 1) Assessment of the existing supply of

recreational opportunities using broad‐based public, provider, and

user feedback in relation to recreation trends, deficiencies, under‐

served areas, and desired improvements, and 2) Conducting an

inventory of current recreation facilities, trails, and wetlands.

Since 1967, the New Mexico State Parks Division has continually

updated its SCORP, which defines how state, federal, local, and

tribal governmental agencies cooperate to provide for the outdoor

recreation needs and demands of the state. The goal of each plan

was to compare the results of a statewide survey of outdoor parks

and recreation usage, needs, and barriers, with an extensive

inventory of all providers for outdoor recreation programs and

facilities in New Mexico, including nonprofit and private providers.

The resulting needs assessment and gap analysis demonstrates the

spirit of cooperation among all providers and serves as a roadmap

to justify future funding and development requests from Recreation

Trails funds, Transportation Enhancement funds, and other federal,

state, and local funding and planning resources as well as the LWCF.

We are proud of the variety of culturally rich resources and services

in the State that serve the outdoor recreation needs of close to two

million residents each year. Additionally, both residents and visitors

enjoy day use and overnight camping opportunities provided by the

federal, state, county, local, and sovereign nation parks, as well as

private, nonprofit providers and ski resorts. Additionally, there are

countless outdoor swimming pools, trails, and diverse outdoor

recreation programs and facilities available on a daily basis.

Whether individuals are working out, taking an environmental

education class, camping, competing in a sports league, playing a

round of golf, enjoying a walk through a neighborhood park, or

simply renting a picnic shelter, there is an activity or service for

everyone!

"The park and recreation movement is more essential today than

ever before. The need to protect and promote our natural

resources and open spaces remains paramount. In addition, we

now face a serious problem of sedentariness that is

disproportionately impacting America’s youth, and this is where

the National Park and Recreation Foundation, along with the other

partners in this movement, plays a critical role."

R. Dean Tice, Life Trustee

(NRPA Executive Director, 1986‐2001)

(17)

2010 – 2014 SCORP 13

Planning

Context

What

is

a

SCORP?

Under the terms of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act

(LWCF) of 1965 that established the LWCF State Assistance

Program, each state is required to develop a Statewide

Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) at least every five

years. The intent of this plan is to justify state and federal

expenditures based upon an analysis of the existing supply of

recreational opportunities using broad‐based public, provider, and

user input regarding recreation trends, deficiencies, under‐served

areas, and desired improvements, and an inventory of current

recreation facilities, trails, and wetlands. Since 1967, the New

Mexico State Parks Division has commissioned a SCORP which

outlines how state, federal, local, and tribal governmental agencies

cooperate to provide for the outdoor recreation needs and

demands of the State.

The LWCF Act explicitly requires the SCORP to include:

a. The name of the state agency that will have the authority to

represent and act for the State in dealing with the Secretary

for purposes of the LWCF Act of 1965, as amended.

b. Inventory of statewide outdoor recreation facilities.

c. Wetlands priority inventory.

d. An evaluation of the demand for and supply of outdoor

recreation resources and facilities in the State.

e. A program for the implementation of the plan.

f. Certification by the Governor that ample opportunity for

public participation has taken place in plan development.

g. Other necessary information, as may be determined by the

Secretary.

SCORP

The 2004‐2009 SCORP was prepared by a research team from the

Community and Regional Planning Program at the University of New

Mexico School of Architecture and Planning. Relevant background

and historic information regarding the SCORP and the importance of

outdoor recreation still applies and is not repeated in this update.

Planning

Methodology

and

Constraints

The goal of the 2010‐2014 SCORP was to create a comprehensive

statewide plan that compared the results of a statewide community

survey of outdoor parks and recreation usage, needs, and barriers,

with an extensive inventory of recreational trails, wetlands, and

outdoor recreation facilities from all providers for outdoor

recreation programs and facilities in New Mexico including