The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) on July 11 released the Trail Map for Rural Development in America, a new resource aimed at guiding policymakers and partners in using outdoor recreation as a tool for rural revitalization.
The release targets federal, state, local, tribal, and philanthropic leaders, providing a roadmap for strengthening local economies, improving resilience, and enhancing quality of life through outdoor access.
Structured around five key areas—education, community vision, financing and implementation, resilience, and innovation—the Trail Map outlines specific actions for advancing policy, practice, and research. The framework is intended to help communities scale outdoor recreation in a sustainable and inclusive way.
“The Trail Map for Rural Development in America is ORR’s vision to unite and guide partners across the country as we help build a bright future for rural America through outdoor recreation,” Chris Perkins, vice president of programs at the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, said in a press release.
The Trail Map is the result of a collaborative effort led by ORR and shaped during a convening of national outdoor recreation, conservation, and rural development leaders in October 2024.
The meeting took place at the Richard King Mellon Foundation offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was supported by the Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation and the Pennsylvania Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship.
Perkins also said the new resource was built in direct response to input from rural leaders nationwide.
“It builds on what we’ve heard from rural leaders for years — that outdoor recreation creates real opportunities when it’s backed by the right planning, partnerships, and investment,” he said.
In conjunction with the Trail Map, ORR also released an updated version of its Rural Development Needs Map, now reflecting more than 350 communities across the United States. These communities are actively seeking resources to develop and expand their recreation economies.
The updated Needs Map highlights nearly 200 communities in regions affected by Hurricane Helene. These areas submitted information as part of ORR’s Hurricane Helene Recovery Grants initiative.