In its commitment to improving conservation and recreation plans in the Pikes Peak region, Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance (PPORA) was chosen for the role of Colorado Outdoor Regional Partner.
According to a report, while planning is in progress, PPORA has established two crucial partnerships for the initial phase: with UCCS and the Colorado Tourism Office.
The partners have enlisted the services of a professional planner from local company N.E.S. Inc. for support in the process of planning.
The Colorado Tourism Office will support PPORA in reviewing the needs of the diverse stakeholders who comprise the outdoor community of El Paso, Teller, and Fremont Counties. This will inform the process of planning and enhance the assessment of the needs of the land manager.
PPORA has established the Pikes Peak Outdoor Industry Fund in conjunction with UCCS to create the Pikes Peak Outdoor Economic Dashboard.
The initial showcase dashboard will include innovatively presented data about tourism, outdoor activities, and recreational assets, their impacts on the natural environment and wildlife, as well as relevant socio-economic factors.
The dashboard will relay information on outdoor-related information to the public and community leaders of the Pikes Peak region for better understanding, appreciation of the importance, and thoughtful, rational decision-making based on facts.
N.E.S. will guide on strategic matters throughout the process of planning. Alongside the overall plan, N.E.S. will lead the needs assessment to understand the present conservation management, recreation, and problems facing Pikes Peak. This will also include a study of the previous major planning processes used to identify the successful strategies and the challenges based on the identified prioritizations.
A thorough examination of possible solutions will be conducted following the needs assessment.
The establishment of a task force comprised of conservationists, landowners and business owners, recreationists, and outdoor organizations from El Paso, Teller, and Fremont counties will be a source of strategic leadership by forming and steering the process.
“These new partnerships and the task force are instrumental in accomplishing the goals of the plan,” said Becky Leinweber, executive director of PPORA. “Good, solid information and the inclusion of diverse perspectives is the foundation necessary for building a collaborative, credible plan that balances both the recreation and conservation priorities of our region.”
The initial planning phase will create the building blocks to create an outdoor recreation and conservation to be used in the Pikes Peak region.