Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, 2003-2007 / Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division

SCORP

CORP 2003-2007 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
2003-2007
Georgia Department Of Natural Resources Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division

SCORP

SCORP

Acknowledgements
Project Team
Project Management
Antoinette Norfleet, Grants Unit Manager, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites Sandy Spicer Lee, Assistant Director, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
Research, Writing and Editing
Robert G. Betz, AICP, Inc. Kurt Fanstill, Georgia Planning Associates Sandy Spicer Lee, Assistant Director, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
Layout and graphics
Julie Tallent, Publications Manager, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
Proofreading and fact-checking
Bryan Alexander, Program Assistant, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
Administrative assistance
Reggie Hymel, Administrative Assistant, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites
SCORP Advisory Council Members
Brockey Brock, Valdosta Parks & Recreation Bill McNair, Baldwin County Parks & Recreation Tom Martin, Georgia Recreation & Parks Association Dee Merriam, DeKalb County Parks & Recreation Doug Parsons, Georgia Conservancy Vicki Pilgrim, Georgia DHR Golden Olympics Bain Proctor, Citizen Advocate (deceased) Mike Riter, Gainesville College (Trails) Shirley Teston, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites (retired) Tom Wilson, Savannah Planning Commission
Financial Assistance
The preparation of this plan was financed in part through a planning grant from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, under the provisions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (Public Law 88-578, as amended).

SCORP

Contents
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 THE PURPOSE OF SCORP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 THE SCORP PLANNING PROCESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 PLAN SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Health Benefits Of Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Economic Benefits Of Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
THE STATE OF GEORGIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 SIZE OF THE POPULATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 AGE DISTRIBUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 INCOME LEVELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 THE HISPANIC POPULATION IN GEORGIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
OUTDOOR RECREATION IN GEORGIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 SUPPLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Recreation Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Quasi-Public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Private Sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Summary Of Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 DEMAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 NEEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 SCORP Statewide Forums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 SCORP Recreation Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 SCORP Questionnaires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
ACTIVITIES MERITING SPECIAL ATTENTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Open Space Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Wetlands Preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Linkages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
1

SCORP

ISSUES, STRATEGIES, AND IMPLEMENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 SHORT-RANGE ACTION PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 FIVE YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 FUNDING OPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Recreation Funding Mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Land And Water Conservation Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Urban Parks And Recreation Recovery Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Recreation Assistance Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Recreation Trails Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Other Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 OUTLOOK FOR CURRENT FUNDING SOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 ESTABLISHING PERMANENT FUNDING SOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 APPENDICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
APPENDIX A Population By County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 APPENDIX B Median Age, Over 65, Under 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 APPENDIX C Median Household Income By County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 APPENDIX D Golf Courses Accessible To The Public In Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 APPENDIX E Hiking, Walking, And Backpacking Trails In Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Trails In State Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 APPENDIX F Campsites In Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
STATE PARKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 NATIONAL FOREST CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 OTHER FEDERAL CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 APPENDIX G STATE PARKS ATTENDANCE AND ACREAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 APPENDIX H Counties In Georgia Without A Local Recreation Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 APPENDIX I Wetlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 SELECTED RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
2

Introduction

SCORP

There are not as many types of outdoor recreation as there are people . . . but it's close. Outdoor recre-
ation covers everything from little league baseball to training for triathlons. It incorporates solitary activities-- such as swimming laps--to team sports--such as softball--to such family-oriented activities as picnics. It may require expensive equipment--check out the price of a graphite golf club--or be virtually free, like jogging or hiking. The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) plays a vital role in the provision of outdoor recreation. Established in 1965, the LWCF is administered in Georgia by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and provides grants for outdoor recreation projects by both state and local governments. Since its inception, LWCF has provided over $72 million in matching funds for recreation-related land purchases, facility development, and rehabilitation of existing facilities throughout Georgia. The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is the blueprint by which all LWCF funding decisions are made.
The Purpose Of Scorp
The 2003 State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is a five-year plan that serves several purposes. First, it provides information to recreation providers. Second, SCORP encourages coordination among providers. To this end, the 2003 SCORP has the following goals:
Assess the adequacy of existing recreation opportunities in Georgia. Determine the demand and need for additional recreation opportunities. Identify major issues facing recreation providers. Recommend an implementation plan to address these issues. To receive LWCF funds, each state must have an approved SCORP that identifies the state's strategies, priorities, and actions for use of LWCF funds. The state's funding criteria must reflect the issues and needs identified in SCORP. Only those projects that meet these criteria are eligible for LWCF funding. The 2003 SCORP does not provide an exhaustive catalog of recreation resources throughout Georgia, but focuses instead on identifying recreation issues and developing an implementation program to address those issues.
The SCORP Planning Process
The SCORP planning process consists of seven steps: Gathering input from users and providers. Analyzing recreation trends. Examining the supply of recreation resources. Determining recreation demand and needs. Identifying issues of statewide significance. Recommending programs and policies. Developing an implementation program.
4

SCORP

The first of these steps, gathering input from recreation users and providers, is critical. No one mechanism can provide sufficient input. Therefore, this process involved a number of complementary methods for gathering the input of Georgians and those who provide recreation to Georgians. SCORP Advisory Council. This group met and participated in a workshop. This group will continue to meet after the publication of this document, providing input during the next planning cycle. Public forums. These meetings were open to everyone. There were four such forums, which were held throughout Georgia. These forums were publicized using websites and mailing lists of the Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA), the Georgia Municipal Association, the Association of County Commissioners, and each of the regional development centers. A questionnaire about outdoor recreation posted on the DNR web site. Questionnaires sent to members of the GRPA and DNR staff.
Plan Summary
This report is divided into four sections. The first section summarizes research and provides background information that may help recreation providers make decisions that affect their communities. Topics include the benefits of outdoor recreation as well as a demographic analysis of Georgia based on 2000 Census data. The second section analyzes Georgia's outdoor recreation supply, demand, and needs. This section includes an explanation of the roles of different levels of recreation providers and spotlights several land protection programs of unique importance. The third section lists recreation issues of statewide importance, suggests strategies and actions for addressing those issues, and identifies priorities for Land and Water Conservation Fund allocations. This section also provides an overview of funding mechanisms historically utilized by Georgia public recreation providers. The final section includes a number of technical appendices offering more details on many of the topics discussed in the previous sections.
5

SCORP

Benefits Of Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor recreation is of great importance both to residents of Georgia and to tourists. Of the 159 counties in Georgia, 144 have at least one local recreation department. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the emphasis on acquisition and preservation of open space at both the local and state levels. Recreation provides many unquantifiable benefits: increases in individual self-esteem, improvement of social skills, facilitation of community integration, increased environmental awareness, and a host of other undeniable benefits. This SCORP, however, concentrates on just two groups of benefits arising from outdoor recreation: health benefits and economic benefits. These are more quantifiable than some of the qualitative benefits associated with outdoor recreation.
Health Benefits Of Recreation
A great deal of research has been done about the health benefits of recreation. The following lists just some of the proven benefits of outdoor recreation to personal health:
Reduces the incidence and severity of illnesses. Extends life expectancy. Prolongs independent living for senior citizens. Reduces stress. Reduces the risk of coronary disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Helps ameliorate depression and insomnia. Reduces obesity. This last point deserves some elaboration. Obesity has been recognized as a full-scale epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the second leading cause of preventable death. Obesity affects 13 percent of children and, in Georgia, more than 20 percent of adults. Moreover these percentages have increased in recent years. A recent finding points out that the percentage of overweight African-American and Hispanic youth has more than doubled in the last 12 years. Recreation is one specific remedy for the threat of obesity. Federal legislation aimed at reducing obesity in children was introduced in July 2002. It would promote recreation by offering grants for bikepaths and other programs aimed at promoting physical activity. There are a number of other federal programs aimed at least partially at increasing physical activity, and thereby affecting obesity: Physical Education for Progress (PEP) Child Health Care Act of 2000 Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act The more general point, however, is this: outdoor recreation in any of its many forms can have a positive effect on the health of the individual participant.
6

SCORP

Economic Benefits

Outdoor recreation has enormous economic benefits. Tourism is an important industry in Georgia, second only to agriculture as the largest industry in the state, and outdoor recreation is a major component of Georgia's tourism. The impact is manifested in expenditures, resident wages, jobs, support of Georgia businesses, and tax revenues.
According to The Economic Impact Of Expenditures By Tourists On Georgia (Davidson-Peterson Associates, February 2002), 41.7 million person visits were made by tourists to Georgia during fiscal year 2000. This resulted in an expenditure of $16.21 billion. The Table below indicates the tourist expenditures on recreation, excluding lodging, transportation, shopping, and food and drink.

Year FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000

Recreation $ from Tourists $2.4 billion $3.3 billion $2.5 billion

Georgia State Parks contribute significantly to local economies. In FY 2002, there were 120,331 reservations for overnight stays at state park facilities. Of those, 28 percent (33,252) were from another state. This is a pure economic benefit: money that otherwise would not be in Georgia. Moreover, those 33,252 reservations translated into 82,797 nights in Georgia (average length of stay was 2.49 nights) and approximately 120,000 surrounding days in which tourists were spending money in the communities surrounding the state park--for gasoline, at restaurants and grocery stores, on other forms of recreation, . . . the list goes on.
Finally, because Georgia State Parks offer reservations on many types of group facilities, the average party size of the 33,252 out-of-state reservations was 9.2. That means over 300,000 individuals were spending money in Georgia who would not be doing so if it were not for the state park system.
These numbers do not even take into account the tourists attracted by the National Forests, the beaches, Lake Lanier and Lake Hartwell, the Appalachian Trail, or any of the many other outdoor recreation sites that bring money into Georgia.
There are many, many other economic benefits of outdoor recreation:
Recreation can enhance the value of surrounding properties.
An indirect benefit of outdoor recreation is the attraction of business and industry.
One dollar spent on recreation yields several dollars to the local economy (the multiplier effect).
Workers that participate in recreational activities are generally more productive and have lower rates of absenteeism and fewer incidences of job-related accidents.
Recreation generates jobs.
It is time to recognize the fact that outdoor recreation is big business, providing both direct and indirect stimulus to local and state economies.

7