Seven Key Takeaways From the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Report

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable has released an eye-opening report that describes the current state of federal spending on outdoor recreation and what the future may hold for the space.

The ORR teamed up with Southwick Associates to create the report, identifying seven key findings.

• The growing gap between federal spending and maintenance backlog
• Outdoor recreation makes up 2.2 percent of US GDP, compared to the 0.16 percent of total federal spending that goes toward this area.
• Federal spending on outdoor rec has not increased in decades meanwhile overall spending has increased 76 percent
• Inflation is outpacing federal spending on outdoor rec
• More than half of the spending on outdoor rec comes from taxes
• Changes in energy consumption is affecting outdoor rec’s budget
• Outdoor rec is overall ignored by federal spending

“As stewards of a sector that not only fuels a $1.1 trillion economy but also enriches the health and well-being of our communities, we must develop collaborative strategies to secure and enhance funding for our invaluable outdoor places and programs. Together, we can ensure that outdoor recreation thrives for generations to come,” Jessica Wahl Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, told RVBusiness.

Moving forward, there are several possible solutions that the report suggests for remedying the sub-par funding efforts.

First on the list of suggestions is greater government responsibility, which ranges from presidential commissions to passing the EXPLORE Act, which has passed in the House of Representatives but still needs to be addressed by the Senate. The legislation would increase access to public lands, update campgrounds and protect activities like rock climbing and mountain biking in outdoor spaces.

Another solution the ORR put forth was a greater reliance on the private sector to protect outdoor rec. For meaningful change, ORR suggests that private, outdoor-focused companies should fill in the gaps left by federal funding. These companies can also educate their customers and clients, and they can partner with technology companies to continue innovating the outdoor rec space.

In a world of ever-present climate change and an increasingly digital existence, the ORR is reminding all outdoorsmen that outdoor rec is begging for assistance. Without help from the federal government, private businesses, and even the every day hiking enthusiast, outdoor recreation faces a difficult future. The takeaways and solutions listed above are useful starting points. Now all eyes are on the Senate to see where the EXPLORE Act may go from here, and what the future of outdoor recreation will look like.