Lombard Park District

Lombard Park District 58 Chapter Three State of Illinois Recreation Trends and Needs According to the 2009-2014 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), while other states in the Midwest have been experiencing fl at population growth or even loss of population, Illinois has consistently gained residents. Especially in the state's urban areas, many of these new residents are more ethnically diverse and have diff erent outdoor recreation preferences. Planning must consider their needs. Other segments of the population that will require attention include those with disabilities and lower incomes. There are more than 1.4 million acres of outdoor recreational land in Illinois ranging from federal and state lands to schools and private commercial lands. City/Village and Park District outdoor recreation lands total an estimated 146,000 acres, resulting in a supply of 11.35 acres per 1,000 population. Statewide supply of regional recreation is 52.69 acres per 1,000 population, or 216,000 acres. This includes county and state lands. For the 2009-2014 SCORP, The Illinois Department of Natural Resources conducted a survey that provides a snapshot of the attitudes toward selected outdoor activities within the state. Taken by over 1,500 Illinois residents in both urban and rural areas, the survey shows that most residents participate in some outdoor activities and most believe they are important and should be available, even if they do not participate in them. Key fi ndings of the survey include: • The most popular outdoor activity across the state was pleasure walking, with 83% of respondents participating in the last year. Picnicking, bird watching, swimming, and using a playground were also the most popular activities. The least popular activities included trapping, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and sailing. • Activities that experienced the most growth in rural counties were fi shing and hunting, while activities that expected growth in urban counties were walking and biking. • Most respondents (35%) indicated the state government was the most important provider of outdoor recreational amenities, followed by local (31%), county (20%), federal (9%), and the private sector (6%). • Most residents reported being satisfi ed with outdoor recreation facilities in the state. Nearly half said the facilities have remained the same as previous years, while about one-third believed they have improved. • Nearly half (43.5%) of respondents indicated activities they would like to start or start doing more often. Indicating Illinois residents are interested in outdoor activities. Based on outdoor recreational land supply and demand and the information derived from the survey, eight basic principles were developed to help guide the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant evaluation process. These priorities are: • Conservation of Natural Resources • Children in the Outdoors • Greenways and Trails • Revitalized Lands • Water Resources • Special Populations • Healthy Communities • Interagency Cooperation and Coordination "Par ar a ks ks enc ncou oura rage ge peo eopl ple e to to get et outdoors rs, to to be e mo mo m re re act ctiv ive, e, and improve their health. Pro rovi vi vidi di d ng park rks an and ou ou outd td tdoo oo oo oor r re re re recr cr crea eati tion on that are e cl c os o e-to t -h -hom om ome makes it easier for peop ople to in inco corp rpor or orat at at at a e ph ph ph phys ys ys y ic ic ic ical al al activity int nto their r da d ily y y li l ve ves. s." Il Illino nois is i Sta tate tewi wide de d Com om ompr pr pr preh eh eh ehen en ensi si si sive ve ve ve Ou Outd tdoor Re R creati ti ti tion on on on Pla la la lan 2009-2014

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