| RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced the publication of Virginia’s new comprehensive, statewide plan for enhancing outdoor recreation, the Virginia Outdoors Plan.
“Virginia is rich with an abundance of best-in-class outdoor recreational opportunities. The 2024 Virginia Outdoors Plan serves as a tool for enhancing outdoor recreation offerings throughout the Commonwealth,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This plan demonstrates the Commonwealth’s commitment to outdoor recreation, land conservation, and education. In partnership with the great leaders that collaborated on this resource, we are making Virginia the best state to live, work, and recreate.”
The Virginia Outdoors Plan is issued by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and can be accessed at www.dcr.virginia.gov/vop.
Developed and presented for the first time in a robust, online platform, the plan is the state’s official guide for meeting Virginia’s outdoor recreation and land conservation needs. Recreation resource planners, managers and community stakeholders rely on the plan to support applications for funding for open space and park projects.
The updated plan fulfills a requirement to remain eligible for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which announced a record funding of $7.2 million for Virginia in fiscal year 2024. Since 1965, nearly $126 million in total apportionments have funded more than 450 projects in Virginia, such as new public parks and improved amenities.
Shaping the plan are residents from throughout the state who shared their recreation needs and interests through the 2022 Virginia Outdoors Survey. The survey was conducted by the Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.
The survey found that most Virginians place a high value on access to outdoor recreation. 82% said access to outdoor recreation was “very important,” up from 70% in 2017. In 2011, the figure was 55.6%.
An even higher percentage of Virginians believe strongly in protecting Virginia’s natural and open-space resources from development. 86% considered protection “very important,” and 12% said it was “somewhat important.”
Other findings include:
“The theme of the new Virginia Outdoors Plan, ‘Best in Class Recreation for All,’ reflects our commitment to expanding public access to top-notch outdoor recreation opportunities and promoting stewardship of our natural and cultural resources,” said DCR Director Matt Wells. “By utilizing the data and survey results in the plan, park planners, community stakeholders and the public can make well-informed decisions as they pursue conservation and recreation goals.”
The priorities identified in the plan include expanding access and opportunities for outdoor recreation, improved safety and health outdoors, and recreation infrastructure that is adequately funded and highly resilient.
“Up until now, the full Virginia Outdoors Plan was available only as a voluminous book,” said Director of DCR’s Division of Planning and Recreation Resources Kelly McClary. “We’re excited to debut the new Virginia Outdoors Plan site — a digital, living document that offers visually engaging, interactive and regionalized spatial mapping and data tools.”
The 2024 version of the Virginia Outdoors Plan, approved by NPS on Dec. 18, will be implemented 2025-2030. |
January 23, 2025 @ 7:01 pm
sucks
January 24, 2025 @ 8:29 am
As. Hunter Education Instructor I am enthusiastic about children and young adults getting out to the outdoor. We were raised in the woods hunting and fishing, having family reunions at Danville Parks. We were taught to respect nature and enjoy what God has bestowed upon us to protect and share. I have visited a lot of states and Virginia has some of the best parks, hunting preserves and lakes around. I only hope the younger generations can keep the outdoors growing for future generations to explore and enjoy.
January 24, 2025 @ 12:07 pm
Hello I am pleased to here if these changes and additions to our beautiful state of Virginia. I would like to find more information on where and when these additions will be implemented, for not only am I a resident of our beautiful & robust state of Virginia I live in the Roanoke valley, where we have a healthy wildlife. I am a man nearing the age of 50, who has hunted and fished for the greater part of my life, I now find myself as many others here at the base of the Star a homeless man who has given his all but found himself on his knees with only nature by his side. My biggest question is will there be anything done to help provide food for Roanoke’s wild life and water for their survival. Sounds a bit far fetched but it’s not as a life long resident here in Roanoke these mountains and hills have been home to many animals and men alike fleeing the ever growing city around them. While some trees and wooded areas still remain any who take a hike or a jog early any morning or in late evening knows there are many healthy deer and an abundance of squirrels but not all animals can survive on merely nuts. The nonmigratory birds and bear populations need a little help here in Roanoke for fear of there relocation. If you take a hike in my old home trails on Mill mountain in mid to late summer put yourself in a bears hide or behind a turkeys a beard what you will find are limited food and essential water resources not available without going directly in to public living spaces with humans. I hope that in our efforts to do things in their environment to improve our experiences we put what really matters first in perspective and not forget who’s land we are developing and make their life less havoc and burdensome and implement some changes for the animals of this beautiful robust Roanoke’s valley and thus invokeing a better relationship with our otherwise forgotten wildlife. Thank you for listening, May you have a Blessed Day!
January 24, 2025 @ 2:35 pm
No plans to protect landowners from deer dog trespassing. We should be able to enjoy the outdoors on our own property without being harassed by dog hunters and their dogs.
January 24, 2025 @ 6:38 pm
It is difficult to enjoy outdoor hiking, biking, horseback riding when you have to worry about getting shot by hunters.. Even worse is hound hunting. I was attacked by a bear that was chased through my pasture by hounds. I was working in the field minding my own business when this occurred.
January 25, 2025 @ 6:58 pm
I read it but didn’t get much from it. It sounds like a plan to have a plan.