Nevada State Parks is asking residents to help shape the future of outdoor recreation through its Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, better known as SCORP.
According to 8 News Now, the 10-year roadmap will guide how $4 million is allocated each year for parks and recreation projects at the state and local level.
Deputy administrator Janice Keillor and her team are leading the effort and hope to gather input from Nevadans about their outdoor habits and preferences.
“We ask questions like, ‘How often do you go outside? How far are you willing to travel to go to an outdoor recreation amenity? What kinds of places do you like to go to? Is it a state park? Is it a national park? Is it a local park, or is it just walking around your neighborhood on the sidewalk?’” Keillor said.
An online survey is being used to collect feedback. While Nevada has conducted SCORP surveys in the past, this is the first plan designed to last a full decade.
Previous versions only spanned five years, with research starting midway through.
In past surveys, residents expressed a strong desire for more open space to protect natural areas from constant development.
State parks officials responded by making land acquisition a key goal in the current SCORP, which runs through 2026.
“We’re currently working on several acquisitions that will become part of our existing parks,” Keillor said.
“Except for one, it would actually create a new park down the road at some point.” In southern Nevada, SCORP funding has already supported trails and a visitor center at Ice Age Fossils State Park, along with local projects in Clark County.
Keillor emphasized that all voices matter, even from those who don’t typically visit parks.
“I think if you’re just getting information from a certain group, then I don’t know if the results are at least as accurate as it could be,” she said.
The survey remains open until September 15 and can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NVSCORP.
This plan underscores how long-term strategies and public participation are shaping the future of outdoor recreation, ensuring Nevada’s parks and open spaces can grow and adapt to meet increasing demand while protecting natural resources.