Thrive Rural Open Field Session
Friday, June 9, 1 – 3 pm ET
Our discussion questions: How is your community using or planning to use outdoor recreation to grow sustainable, healthy livelihoods for families and new economic futures for your region? How does the prioritization of equity, fairness, local ownership, and better health outcomes shape your outdoor recreation efforts?
The challenge: The sector has a history of inequitable outcomes, including generating wealth primarily for outside investors, providing mostly low-wage and seasonal employment for local people, and putting unsustainable pressure on local systems and resources (especially related to housing and transportation).
The opportunity: The outdoor recreation economy is one of the largest economic sectors in the United States, estimated at $374.3 billion in 2020, and recreation activities have a powerful impact on state and local tax revenue.
As new rural outdoor recreation economies take root, our recent Call to Action and its recommendations show how we can improve outdoor recreation development to better support rural families, businesses, and workers, create more sustainable and equitable economic systems, and improve local health and wellbeing.
We want you to join the discussion! From longtime residents to newcomers now living and working in rural places, we want to hear from you! What is working? What are you trying? This conversation will be enriched by people interested in sharing or learning about techniques for growing sustainable regional economies based on outdoor recreation.
Please think about a success story or experience you’d like to share.
We will kick off the gathering with a whole group conversation moderated by Chris Estes, Aspen CSG’s Co-Executive Director, followed by optional small group breakout discussions. You don’t have to share your voice to participate in the event; we encourage you to send insights in the chat or listen. All are welcome.
related publications
Mapping a New Terrain: Call to Action
As new rural outdoor recreation economies take root, we can meet this moment by improving how we do outdoor recreation development to better support rural families, businesses, and workers, create more sustainable and equitable economic systems, and improve local health and wellbeing.
Mapping a New Terrain: Executive Summary
Executive Summary document for Mapping a New Terrain: A Call to Action. Get quick takeaways and recommendations for action on equitable outdoor recreation development.
Outdoor Recreation Economies: Challenges & Opportunities
Outdoor recreation is driving new opportunities for local communities in many rural places. See ways to do economic development differently with rural recreation economies.
Ensuring Rural Communities Welcome Everyone
Resources and best practices to ensure that each and every person is welcomed to the community, feels connected, and is able to exercise and influence power in community decision-making.
