Alaska Trails/Confluence/Adventure Alaska Fund Building a Powerful Alaskan Outdoor Recreation Economy Why, What, and One Path to Get There

Transcription

1 Alaska Trails/Confluence/Adventure Alaska Fund Building a Powerful Alaskan Outdoor Recreation Economy Why, What, and One Path to Get There Steve Cleary, Alaska Trails Lee Hart Levitation 49/ Valdez Adventure Alliance Chris Beck Alaska Trails/Agnew::Beck Consulting

2 AGENDA 1. Confluence: Outdoor Recreation Industry Initiative 2. Unpacking One Key Strategy Improving Alaska s Trails 3. Discussion and Feedback Breakouts and report back o Five trail priority criteria o A starting list of promising trail projects 4. Next Steps: How we get there Full group discussion o Funding strategies o Statewide trails priorities project o Outdoor recreation economic impact studies o Support for the organizations: AK Trails/Confluence

3 CONFLUENCE INITIATIVE 1. Background and Goals Launched by Lee Hart in June 2016 Aims to create new recognition and support political, financial for the underdeveloped potential of Alaska s outdoor recreation industry Fall 2017, 2 more events March 2018, legislative fly-in

4 2. What is the outdoor recreation industry? Dollars spent directly having fun outside, e.g. a charter fishing trip, lift ticket at Alyeska, park entry fees, permits Value added dollars spent in process of seeking outdoor recreation experiences. BEA boating example: lessons, marine services, finance & insurance, boat sales, motors, accessories, produced by allied industries: motor vehicle and parts, transportation equipment (racks, trailers) Manufacturing and sales of outdoor gear Support industries: lodge construction, trail building, transportation (air, land, water), aviation, the full range of hospitality activities

5 3. Who? It s a Very Big Tent Healthy fun for everybody: young old; motorized & non; hunting & fishing, hiking, kayaking, climbing, biking, boating

6 4. Why? Reasons To Build An Alaska Outdoor Recreation Industry Job creation for Alaskans, building on Alaska s strengths Durable economic sector Easy invitation to healthy lives Community-based economic development Wide spread benefits: residents, visitors, businesses, communities and destinations Smart investment for the future of Alaska Supporting the local economy in Port Heiden

7 5. Why Now? A Ripe Time for New AK Economic Strategies AK Economic Trends, April 2018 Alaska Department of Labor

8 6. AK Outdoor Recreation: How to make it stronger? Share the facts about outdoor recreation economic, health and social impacts on communities Support and expand OREC businesses Invest in big improvements in the quality and diversity of outdoor recreation opportunities Stewardship of outdoor recreation places Foster partnerships and leadership

9 HOW TO GET THERE? ONE STRATEGY - EXPAND & IMPROVE TRAILS AND RELATED RECREATION INFRASTRUCTURE Kincaid South Ridge

10 WHAT KINDS OF ALASKA OUTDOOR RECREATION PROJECTS & PROGRAMS Bring most benefits? Best match resident & visitor interests? Generate most support? Alaska: So much beautiful land and water, so little recreation infrastructure

11 CRITERIA FOR SETTING TRAIL PRIORITIES 1. WELL DEVELOPED, WORLD CLASS DESTINATION ADVENTURE More reasons to fly over the Sierras, the Rockies, the Alps and come to Alaska 2. TRAIL ADVENTURES SERVING THE THE MISSING MIDDLE More investment and better partnerships to serve what most people want, that is: affordable, short-term adventure, with a bed and shower, good food and drink, and fast internet at the end of the day 3. DESTINATION TOWNS BETTER IN-TOWN RECREATION PLUS LOW HASSLE ACCESS TO BIG FUN AT THE EDGE OF TOWN Alaskan communities that can compete with destinations around the planet; communities that provide compelling reasons to move to or stay, to visit, to start or grow a business 4. SOLID PUBLIC & AGENCY SUPPORT; BROAD GEOGRAPHIC AND USER GROUP DIVERSITY 5. REALISTIC PROSPECTS FOR RESOURCES FOR TRAIL CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

12 A FEW ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES GIRDWOOD/CROW PASS to EAGLE RIVER two day walk through the heart of the Chugach, in the center of AK population, and a segment of the Iditarod Trail But... rough trail, no bridge over thigh-deep Eagle River. AK HUTS WHISTLESTOP SYSTEM shovel ready hut to hut trail project in Spencer River/Spencer Glacier drainage. Progress, albeit slowly, with AK Railroad, USFS, State of Alaska, Alaska Huts.

13 A FEW ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES PROPOSED ALASKA LONG TRAILS Trans Alaska Trail 800 miles of spectacular Alaska, following the pipeline from sea to shining sea. Growing, diverse support. Iditarod/cross Kenai adventure biking/hiking trail. Recently designated a USFS national priority Copper River Trail the historical route of the Kennecott copper mine railway Prince William Sound Marine Trail

14 A FEW ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES DESTINATION TOWNS Bend, Moab, Roanoke, Asheville 1. Inviting trails and transit link the core to surrounding recreation places 2. A concentrated, walkable center with lodging, food, bars, rentals, other services 3. Strong marketing at state level promoting active recreation destinations & experiences

15 A FEW MORE ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES Iditarod Trails Complex Anchorage to Seward Treadwell Ditch - Juneau Sustainable 4 wheeler subsistence trails - Western Alaska Snow machine trail networks - Mat Su & Statewide Front Country recreation trails - Denali Public Use Cabins Sitka, Juneau & Statewide Arctic to Indian Trail - Anchorage Curry Ridge to Kesugi - Mat Su Donnelly Dome Trail - Delta Junction Robe Lake Area Development - Valdez Herning Winter Use Trail - Mat Su Alaska Huts Trail up Manitoba Mountain - Seward Highway/Kenai

16 Your Turn: Small Group Breakouts Here s what we ask: Join a AK Geographic Region Breakout Identify someone to take notes/report back Discuss/refine/confirm the prioritizing criteria we ve identified Identify up to 5 great trails in your region that meet those criteria Report back to the full group SUGGESTED CRITERIA/GOALS FOR IDENTIFYING PRIORITY TRAILS 1. Well Developed, World Class Destination Adventure 2. Destination Towns Better In-town Recreation Plus Low Hassle Access To Big Fun At The Edge Of Town 3. Trail Adventure Serving The The Missing Middle 4. Solid public/agency support; broad geographic and user group diversity 5. Realistic prospects for resources for construction and maintenance

17 Next Steps: How do we get there? 1. Statewide trail priorities inventory 2. Aggregate OREC economic impact studies 3. Identify & begin to formalize funding strategies 4. Build support for organizations: AK Trails/Confluence 5. State Office of Outdoor Recreation

18 Next Steps: How do we get there? Proposed process Mid May teleconference AK Trails/Chris Beck (includes trail builders; regional trail orgs; regional planners, agencies ) September 12 Confluence Statewide Conference Winter into Spring continued refinement of priority list; work to secure support for individual projects, prime the pump with your local legislators March 2018 Legislative Fly-in with

19 We need to get everybody working together. "When you look at the outdoor industry historically, we ve been a fractured, disjointed community. Whatever people are fighting for or focused on, they sort of stay in their own lane. We need to see we are all interconnected. Luis Benitez, Colorado Office of Outdoor Recreation, at Confluence Valdez 2017

20 Thanks! Lee Hart Steve Cleary Chris Beck