Modern Recreation Policy in America Defining Ideas and

Modern Recreation Policy in America Defining Ideas and Gaining Consensus

Key Milestones in Recreation Polices on Public Lands • Turn of the century – the 20 th Century – New lands systems created, including wildlife refuges and national forests – Areas set aside assembled into national park system in 1916 • The Depression: a Boon for the Outdoors • Direction was largely through the Executive Branch

Demand Surged Post WW II • And Congressional interest followed • Key action in the late 1950’s, led by Congressional leader like Scoop Jackson and national figures like Laurance Rockefeller – Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission • 8 of 15 commissioners were Congressionals

Bipartisan From the Start • Created by a Democratic Congress, appointed and staffed by a Republican Administration (Eisenhower) • Congressional delegation divided by party, actively engaged • Extensive effort to think systems and forecast demand – first ever national survey of recreation participation

Recommendations Offered to New Administration • Work continued during transition from Eisenhower to Kennedy Administrations • Recommendations presented in 1962, in a report authored by Henry Diamond – loaned to the commission by Nelson and Laurance Rockefeller • The strategy to promote recommendations was carefully crafted – from pre-release meetings with Stuart Udall to creation of CCORRR and help in unifying groups into NRPA

ORRRC Legacy • New federal structures: Bureau of Outdoor Recreation within Interior; a White House-level National Recreation Council; a periodic National Outdoor Recreation Plan • A major new funding strategy: the Land Water Conservation Fund, adding new federal lands and assisting states

Land Water Conservation Fund • Initially funded by fees and surplus property sales, soon shifted to OCS royalties and payments • Reached nearly $1 billion annually in 1960’s, early 1970’s • Federal support to states was for acquisition and development, required SCORPs and future focus • Total spending of some $10 billion

ORRRC Focused on Federal Programs • Central role in key new laws: National Wilderness Protection Act National Trails System Act Wild and Scenic Rivers Act National Historic Preservation Act Concessions Policy Act

Congressional Leaders Flourish, Expansion is the Focus • • Scoop Jackson Mo Udall Phil Burton New urban national parks and national recreation areas • Alaska • NEPA protects parks from highways

The 1980’s Brought Changes • Began with funding cutbacks, economic and mobility concerns • BOR (morphed into HCRS) was abolished • Major commodity thrust – especially timber in national forests • Awareness that ORRRC had underestimated demand for outdoor recreation

Key Leaders Call for New Vision • ARC led efforts in Reagan Administration transition process, plus at 12/80 National Conference on Sustainable Natural Resources • ARC, NRPA, Rockefeller join forces in 1982 • Legislation passes Senate, “quarantined” in House • Senior public figures issue call • President Reagan approached directly in summer 1984 an EO creation promised through Interior Secretary Bill Clark

EO Issued, Implementation Challenges Arise • New Interior Secretary undertakes shuttle mission to create bi-partisan support • Recruitment of Chairman adds new twists – including a new name: PCORRR becomes President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors • Congressional role diminished – 4 of 15 – but remains senior and bipartisan • New focus on grassroots efforts, partners

PCAO Legacy • Fees – fee demo and FLREA • Specialized funds – Wallop/Breaux, National Recreational Trails Fund, scenic byways grants • New systems: greenways, scenic byways • New focus on “seamless” systems and partnerships extending beyond natural resources, including transportation • Urban America needs and outdoor ethics • Volunteerism boost

Recreation and the 21 st Century • New consensus on priorities – including on revitalization or replacement of LWCF • New awareness of potential for partnerships from health, education, justice and economic development communities • Concerns about connection between young Americans/fastest growing ethnic groups and the Great Outdoors

Lamar Alexander Calls for New Commission • Suggests several areas of focus, including future of Land Water Conservation Fund • Call receives polite response but no outcry of support • Alexander meets with key interests and seeks advice, support and visions

Key Issues • Timing: when would recommendations be most valuable to a new Administration and Congress • Creation: ORRRC was created by statute, PCAO by Executive Order. What are the trade-offs? What if the commission was created by leading non-government officials, or by the National Governors Association? • Key themes and issues: should the new commission emphasize recreation’s role in health, education, drug and violence deterrence, economic sustainability of communities and more rather than specific recreation infrastructure goals?

More Key Issues • How should the Congress be involved? • What structure will be needed to get recommendations addressed when the report is completed? • Has the lure of the outdoors peaked, unable to compete with electronic games and other leisure options? • How can public recreation programs be funded long-term? If they aid health, should the nation’s health budget be tapped? Same for education, criminal justice budgets …

Special Opportunity • Senator Alexander is now playing a key role in Republican policy formulation. • He has been a White House staffer, a governor, a Senator – understands structures. • Philosophically attuned to bipartisanship. • Personal commitment to the outdoors.