FOLLOW THE MAP. The Regional Outdoor Recreation Plan (RORP) could be the blueprint to western Wisconsin's most effective recreation-driven economic strategy ever. Now with approval, the hardest work – putting data-driven planning to action – begins. (Bikers in Eau Claire, pictured)

The future of eight western Wisconsin counties’ rural outdoor rec scenes officially has a USDA-approved game plan: the Regional Outdoor Recreation Plan (RORP).

Formally announced by the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Committee (WCWRPC) on May 28, the RORP – which spans Buffalo, Clark, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Tremprealeau, Pepin and Jackson counties – received approval this spring after being submitted around the new year.

Its ultimate goal is to deliver wide-ranging benefits to the region, from job creation and workforce development opportunities to increased tourism and visitor dollars, among others.

“While individual countries maintain local outdoor recreation plans, this initiative is the first to align those efforts into a cohesive regional strategy,” a recent WCWRPC media release stated. “The plan expands beyond traditional recreation planning by incorporating business development, workforce strategies and tourism branding.”

In identifying outdoor recreation-related assets, the RORP found several business "hotspots" in the region. Dunn County's Menomonie area displays the highest density of those assets, as pictured through GIS mapping above.

The RORP has five key focus areas: strengthen and connect trail and waterways systems; support outdoor-related business development and entrepreneurship; invest in infrastructure that attracts visitors and residents; promote sustainable land use and conservation practices; build a recognizable regional identity for outdoor rec.

The latter is the first item RORP stakeholders will work on this summer; a new organization (and its  brand "identity") will need to be formed, charged with seeing the RORP to fruition.

That critical action, alongside a handful of other “immediate next steps,” will go into motion throughout this year according to Kennedy Domerchie, outdoors development manager for Visit Eau Claire.

First, an in-person strategic planning meeting will be led by the National Park Service and other partners to kick things off.

“The goal (of that meeting) will be to tackle some of the big-picture questions, including what type of entity structure makes the most sense moving forward, whether that’s a nonprofit organization, collaborative partnership, or another model,” she said.

Domerchie said those stakeholders may tap a third-party researcher and designer to help create that regional brand, which could be funded by a Travel Wisconsin Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant.

"the ultimate goal is to grow and support the outdoor recreation economy throughout the region."

KENNEDY DOMERCHIE

OUTDOORS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, VISIT EAU CLAIRE

One of the first tangible results of the RORP, following the behind-the-scenes efforts of creating an interim board and other tasks, could be way finding signage.

“Wayfinding signage was identified throughout the planning process as one of the most affordable, high-impact investments the region can make,” Domerchie said.

The natural connection between recreational and business assets can be strengthened through increased access and traffic between the region’s downtowns, trail systems and rec hubs, she added.

“That recreation-to-commerce connection is a core pillar of both plans, as the ultimate goal is to grow and support the outdoor recreation economy throughout the region,” she said.

Though Wisconsin’s scenic beauty may not be a secret, the sheer diversity of it – and its recreational and economic opportunities – is perhaps lesser realized. The RORP could begin changing that in just the next few years.

Explore the Regional Outdoor Recreation Plan website online or head straight to the most recent plan, beginning on page three of this document.