outdoor spaces equal healthy places

Outdoor Spaces Equal Healthy Places

Planning for Virginia’s Outdoors

Today’s Topics• Discuss linkages between health and outdoor activity• Report statistics from the Virginia Outdoors Plan and

Survey• Discuss how state, regional and local partnerships are

formed to promote physical activity and recreation outdoors

• Outline DCR outdoor recreation planning resources (website overview).

2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan

Virginia’s 10th Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)

Recognized as one of top 3 SCORPs in country.

Outdoor Recreation ObjectiveProvide guidance to all levels of government and the private sector in meeting the state’s conservation, outdoor recreation and open space needs.

Produced in accordance with §10.1-200 of the Code of Virginia.

Land Conservation Objective

Provide guidance for land protection through actions of the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF).

Identify potential conservation lands in each planning district (region).

Produced in accordance with §10.1-1021 of the Virginia Code.

Land & Water Conservation Fund

Requirement of the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program.

Provides guidance for grant fund allocation to state and local projects.

Steps in Planning Process - Statewide

• Identify Virginia trends in outdoor recreation

• Correlate trends with inventory of outdoor recreation facilities

• Identify outdoor recreation needs based on 2011 Virginia Outdoors Survey

Steps in Planning Process - Regional

• Evaluate regional trends and outdoor recreation focus

• Identify outdoor recreation needs

• Identify projects of significance within each PDC

Results from the2011 Virginia Outdoor Survey

Center for Survey Research, University of VirginiaVirginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

www.dcr.virginia.gov/recreational_planning/vop.shtml

12CSR-UVA and Virginia DCR: The 2011 Virginia Outdoor Demand Survey

Survey Methods

• 13,880 randomly selected addresses• 3,150 usable responses (22.7%)• Weighted data (adjusted for

disproportionate sampling by planning district and for demographic representativeness – age, gender, race)

• Overall margin of error approx. 2.4%

UVA Center for Survey Research

Most popular activities


Activity % of households2006 2011

Walking for pleasure 72 82Visiting historic areas 56 64Visiting parks (local, state, natl.) -- 51Driving for pleasure 55 --Visiting natural areas, preserves, refuges 44 50Swimming/pool 44 (all) 43Sunbathing/relaxing on a beach 36 41Swimming/beach 44 (all) 38Jogging/running 24 34Using a playground 25 30Picnicking away from home 26 28

Most popular activities



Visiting gardens/arboretums 22 26Hiking/backpacking 16 25Fresh water fishing 20 24Golf 15 16Canoeing/kayaking/rowing 9 16Salt water fishing 15 14Off-road/multi-use bicycling 5 14Fitness Trail (not jogging) 11 13Basketball 13 13Hunting 8 13

Public Perception of What Outdoor Recreation Facilities are Most Needed



Hiking and walking trails 49 68State waters: fishing, swimming, beach 50 60Natural areas 42 55Bicycling trails 40 54Historic areas 33 51Canoeing, kayaking -- 46Wildlife watching and nature study -- 45Playing fields for outdoor sports 36 40Public pools -- 38Tennis and basketball courts 25 32

Opinions about recreationHow important is it to have access to outdoor recreation opportunities?


Rating % of households2006 2011

Very important 50 56Important 42 36Not important 8 8

When you participate

Mostly on weekends 55%About equally 37%Mostly during the week 8%

When do you most often participate in outdoor activities?


Information

Word of mouth 72%Internet 59%Magazine and newspaper articles 46%Travel guides, pamphlets, brochures 33%Advertisements 33%Other 8%

How do you usually find out about outdoor information and activities?


Internet 67%Smart phone 27%Social media 26%GPS 25%Digital mapping 23%Remote cameras 9%Other 6%

Which technologies do you use in connection with outdoor recreation?


Technology

Importance of protecting resources

Very important 66%Important 28%Not important 1%Don’t know 5%

How important do you feel it is to protect Virginia’s natural and open space resources?


Spending to preserve natural areas

Yes 73%No 9%Don’t know 18%

Should the state spend public funds to acquire land to prevent the loss of natural areas and open spaces?


Partnerships

We need help with…• Community Design• Research/Fact sheets (making the case)• Information on where to exercise (maps)• Education• Motivation (Doctor’s orders!)• Design and construction

Little Rock, Arkansas “Medical Mile”This multi-use trail that includes playgrounds, sprayground, picnic areas, sculptures and a 1300 foot 3-dimensional mural wall with a “message of health and fitness”

Active Chatham’s Physical Activity Resource Guide

Live Healthy Lynchburg

Activate Martinsville

Trails for Youth

A Strategic Planning Process to Develop a Health and Outdoor Recreation Blueprint

Healthy Appalachia Institute

A-Achieve, Healthy PortsmouthB-Big Cities, VA Beach Health DistrictC-Choice Neighborhoods, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing AuthorityF-Faith-based Advocacy, Hampton Roads Ed. Telecommunication Assoc., Inc.L-Let’s Move Cities, Towns, & Counties, HamptonP-Place-based Initiatives, Activate our Town

Website Overview (Image Coming)

Hikingupward.com

Mapmyride.comMapmyhike.comMapmyrun.com

Everytrail.com

Alltrails.com

livestrong.com

Fitday.com

Sparkpeople.com

Loseit.com

Nutrimirror.com

Contact Information

Jennifer [email protected]

804-786-9240

mailto:[email protected]

outdoor spaces equal healthy places

Documents

virginia dcr

outdoor recreation focus

code of virginia

virginia code

children52013 virginia

virginia outdoors survey

states conservation

federal land