WHAT IS THE SCORP?
In order to be eligible for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the State of Alaska must prepare a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). The LWCF provides critical funding in the form of 1:1 matching grants, which go through the State to local governments for land acquisition projects and development of public outdoor recreation infrastructure. The SCORP also fulfills a requirement for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) project application.
In one concise document, the SCORP has the potential to guide outdoor recreation development decisions in the state for the next five years. At its core, the SCORP evaluates the demand and supply of public outdoor recreation resources throughout Alaska, identifies capital investment priorities for acquiring, developing, and protecting all types of outdoor recreation resources, assures continuing opportunity for local government and private citizens to take part in planning for statewide outdoor recreation, and coordinates all outdoor recreation programs throughout the State.
2023-2027 PLAN UPDATE
Visit the Alaska Trails’ SCORP project website for more information about the 2023-2027 SCORP update, including drafts, public comment, and surveys.
The current SCORP update provides a new opportunity for a comprehensive, project-focused, locally-driven process for guiding investments and strategies for outdoor recreation. This includes addressing needs for infrastructure such as parks and trails, open space acquisition, and broader strategies for funding, marketing, and partnership building.
To reach these outcomes, Alaska State Parks (DPOR) and the NPS River, Trails & Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program established a statewide group of SCORP advisors and regional working groups. Alaska Trails is a statewide nonprofit that provides technical assistance for trails-related projects and programs. Alaska Trails is serving as the project management team for the 2023-2027 SCORP production, coordinating the effort.
2016 - 2021 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)
The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation has published the 2016 - 2021 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). The SCORP is updated periodically to maintain statewide eligibility for grant assistance through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
The SCORP measures both the supply of, and demand for public outdoor recreation resources throughout Alaska. These evaluations help to establish funding priorities for LWCF grants through the next five years.
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