Montpelier, VT – The State of Vermont is proud to announce the launch of Move Forward Together Vermont, a strategic vision for the state’s outdoor recreation economy over the next five years and beyond. This guide to the future of outdoor recreation in Vermont comes after extensive engagement with thousands of Vermont residents, business owners, outdoor recreation planners, funders, and users. Over an 18-month period, focus groups, surveys, and feedback sessions yielded an unprecedentedly robust set of data that shaped the vision and prioritized actions for strengthening Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy.
“Outdoor recreation is at the heart of Vermont’s culture, health, and economy,” said Danielle Fitzko, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation. “Move Forward Together Vermont will ensure that we follow a strategic and intentional approach in building a vibrant outdoor recreation economy that benefits communities, supports local businesses, and improves the health and wellness of all Vermonters.”
A Vision for Healthy and Vibrant Communities
Move Forward Together Vermont encourages broad and inclusive partnership that emphasizes the importance of equity and climate resilience in implementing all actions taken in support of the plan.
Three key themes emerged from the data, guiding the implementation of 19 priority actions.
- Stewardship priorities focus on caring for Vermont’s parks, trails, water access, and natural resources and the people and organizations managing them.
- Wellness priorities support the physical and mental health benefits of outdoor recreation, with a commitment to making outdoor spaces accessible to all.
- Economic development priorities strengthen economic opportunities for businesses and organizations that support outdoor recreation and promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and workforce development.
Call to Action: Collaboration for Success
The success of Move Forward Together Vermont depends on the collaboration and engagement of outdoor recreation partners from all sectors. This includes businesses, organizations, funders, and local communities working together to address challenges, share resources, and implement best practices.
“Move Forward Together Vermont’s vision gives us a clear strategy for the work we do in defining career pathways and climate resilient strategies for business viability,” said Kelly Ault, Executive Director for the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance. “The priority actions throughout the key themes directly benefit Vermont’s outdoor businesses and provide opportunities ripe for collaboration.”
“It’s vital that as we strengthen our outdoor recreation economy, we also underscore the importance of stewardship and the maintenance of our existing outdoor recreation assets. The priorities in Move Forward Together Vermont will help us align and coordinate the diverse network of trail organizations, municipalities, and land managers who steward our recreation infrastructure and ensure opportunities to connect with the outdoors remain open and available to everybody,” said Nick Bennette, Executive Director for the Vermont Mountain Bike Association and Chair for the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council.
The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) is committed to supporting partners by helping them complete critical outdoor recreation projects at local, regional, and statewide levels. The Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) will play a key role in monitoring progress and ensuring that the shared vision for Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy is realized.
Today’s launch kick starts the implementation of this important vision for Vermont’s outdoor recreation future. Get involved by visiting the Move Forward Together Vermont website, reading the report, and joining the email list. Learn more about the Move Forward Together Vermont planning process.
