Rhode Island's Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)
The Rhode Island Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is the Ocean State’s ten-year master plan for outdoor recreation. It's a plan that helps us figure out the best ways to enjoy, protect, and improve outdoor recreation in our state, whether they're parks, trails, beaches, playing fields and courts, playgrounds, farms, or forests.
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 legislative stature that requires consistency across 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.
Previous SCORP Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
We define outdoor recreation very broadly. It includes all the ways Rhode Islanders recreate outside: everything from playing organized sports, going to the beach, walking, paddling, sailing, fishing, and hunting – and all the infrastructure and resources that people use for these activities – local playgrounds and rec centers, state parks and beaches, boat ramps, fishing piers, walking trails, and more!
The SCORP will outline funding priorities for outdoor recreation investment over the next 5 years. Your favorite beach, park, walking trail, or boat ramp is part of this plan! Your feedback about your recreational needs are invaluable to us as we plan for improvements and additions to our recreational infrastructure.