The classic image of outdoor recreation in Oregon typically involves big mountains, the ocean coast or a wild river filled with salmon.
But a new report suggests most outdoor recreation in Oregon actually occurs on the trails and parks of urban centers.
A newly-released report from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department identifies $640 million in funding needed for Oregon’s trail systems, but also says the investment could save billions in health care costs.
“We heard it time and again, across every demographic: the best way to get people outdoors and increase physical activity was to have more close-to-home trail systems,” Oregon Parks and Recreation Department planner Terry Bergerson said.
Bergerson helped guide the “Oregon Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan,” which is produced every five years to setpolicy and help cities and counties get grant money.
The report highlights the health benefits of outdoor recreation while looking at how to bring those benefits to a population that’s getting older, more diverse, and more urbanized. It also examines how to bring recreation to low-income families that have traditionally been underserved.
Read the full report here:https://bit.ly/2TCIxOv.
Oregon saves billions from outdoor recreation
Outdoor recreation isn’t only about getting people outdoors — it’s also about saving the state money. The report estimates Oregon saves$1.4 billion annually in healthcare costs by reducing chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, depression, dementia, diabetes and several cancers, a news release said.
Oregonians who participated in outdoor recreation in 2017 expended the energy equivalent of 144 million pounds of body fat, which would fill nearly 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
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A research team atOregon State Universitydeveloped a tool to quantify the “cost of illness” savings when people engage in 30 outdoor activities, including walking, hiking, skiing, paddling and outdoor sports like tennis and soccer.
“The results are consistent across the state: when outdoor recreation is easily accessible, healthcare costs go down,” saidRandall Rosenberger, an applied economist with OSU that produced the research.“How we design communities and transportation systems contributes to the health of Oregonians.”
Most popular types of outdoor recreation
The most common types of outdoor recreation — and the ones Rosenberger said saved the most money due to health care benefits — were largely focused on walking or hiking near population centers.
The report looked at the most popular types of outdoor recreation in a statewide survey that got responses from 3,069 completed surveys.Here are the eight most popular outdoor activities:
- Non-motorized trail activities, 83 percent
- Outdoor leisure / sporting activities, 59 percent
- Non-motorized water-based and beach activities, ocean beach, 57 percent
- Nature study activities, wildlife forest observation, 34 percent
- Vehicle-based camping activities-car camping with a tent, 32 percent
- Non-motorized snow activities, 27 percent
- Hunting and fishing activities, 27 percent
- Motorized Activities, power boating (cruising / water skiing), 12 percent
Expand recreation benefit with trails
One of the best ways to expand the health benefits of outdoor recreation, to reach every socioeconomic group, included expanding and creating new trails, the report said.
“The study suggests that an investment in state resources for non-motorized trail development has the potential to significantly influence community health and may be a cost-effective health prevention strategy for the state of Oregon,” the report said.
The report suggests the vast majority of that investment, $503 million, gotoward “close-to-home” trail development in populated areas.
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“As a general objective, we’d like as many people as possible to be within walking distance of a trailhead,” Bergerson said. “When we asked people how funding for recreation should be allocated, they said the top need was for dirt and soft-surface trails close to home.”
The report looks at a number of alternatives for a dedicated funding source, including reallocating gas tax revenues, an employee payroll tax or a sugary drink excise tax, among others.
How best to serve challenged groups
The report looks at how best to serve challenged groups with outdoor recreation, including:
- An aging population
- An increasingly diverse population
- Lack of youth engagement in outdoor recreation
- An underserved low-income population
- Increasing levels of physical inactivity within the population.
For example, 13 percent of Oregon’s population is below the poverty threshold — a group that is less likely to use publicly funded parks but has more problems with health.
“Oregon’s park and recreation providers have an opportunity to examine and address the special needs of the underserved low-income population in the state,” the report said. “Not only is this a matter of service equity, but there is a strong economic incentive for action based on health care costs associated with physical inactivity and obesity levels.”
The report suggests prioritizing more free-of-charge recreation opportunities, grant programs and cheaper drive-in campground to meet the needs of those on a tight budget.
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Another example is that, in Oregon, people over the age of 60 is increasing and by 2030, 27 percent of the population will be over 60.
As a result, the report suggests prioritizing drive-in tent campsites and cabins or yurts with heat, lights, bathroom, and kitchen to better serve the camping needs of middle old Oregonians, the report said.
Comment on the report
Bergerson said OPRD is looking for public comment on the report through Feb. 7. Comments can be emailed toterry.bergerson@oregon.govor submitted online athttps://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PLANS/Pages/201923SCORP.aspx.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer, photographer and videographer in Oregon for 11 years. He is the author of the book “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.
