About the SCORP

About the SCORP

Rhode Island's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)

The RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) recently updated the the Statewide Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) for 2019 – 2024. The 2019 SCORP outlines the existing status, current needs, and future vision for outdoor recreation and open space protection. It was informed by public input from our growing and changing population and sets concrete goals and strategies for improvements and additions to our infrastructure, programming, and resources.

As a Rhode Island state policy document, Ocean State Outdoors serves several key purposes:

State Guide Plan

This plan is an element of the Rhode Island State Guide Plan, and, as such, has legislated stature which requires the consistency of all publicly supported activities, both planning and project implementation. State agencies, municipalities and all public and private entities receiving public support are expected to carry out any recreation, conservation and open space activity in a way that is consistent with this element of the State Guide Plan.

State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)

Ocean State Outdoors is also submitted by Rhode Island to meet the National Park Service’s planning eligibility requirements for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund program. This program is a valuable source of support for protecting resources and providing facilities for public recreational use.

State Recreational Trails Plan

In concert with Rhode Island’s Greenways Plan, this plan addresses the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation ‐‐ Federal Highway Administration's National Recreational Trails Program which provides funds to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail‐related facilities.

Wetlands Priority Plan

This plan provides an update to the wetlands priority plan required under the federal Emergency Wetlands Conservation Act. Updates to the original 1988 plan are submitted to the National Park Service periodically as part of SCORP updates.

SCORP Project Team

The 2019 SCORP was updated in collaboration with a Working Group, which included staff of The RI Division of Planning, DEM, and an Advisory Committee, which included a broad representation of stakeholders such as state and municipal officials, environmental organizations, and private sector stakeholders.

Working Group

Megan DiPrete

Chief, DEM Division of Planning & Development



Michelle Sheehan

Programming Services Officer, DEM Division of Planning & Development



Lisa McGreavy

Senior Environmental Planner, DEM Division of Planning & Development



Terri Bisson

Chief Program Development, DEM Bureau of Natural Resources/Division of Parks

Nancy Hess

Supervising Land Use Planner, Rhode Island Division of Planning



Paul Gonsalves

Senior Land Use Planner, Rhode Island Division of Planning

Mike Moonan

Project Manager, Weston & Sampson



Jim Riordan

Project Manager, Weston & Sampson