Division of Parks+ Recreation Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan - Public Opinion Survey

Thank you for taking this time to complete this survey! The North Carolina Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, or SCORP, is a guiding document for how our state departments, divisions and recreation providers will address the needs of residents over the next five years. Your input is incredibly valuable in the drafting of the plan. Please allow yourself 5-10 minutes to complete the following survey. If you would like to learn more about the plan, please visit ncparks.gov/outdoors.

This survey will close on Wednesday, October 30th at midnight, so be sure to submit your responses before then! Thank you!

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* 1. What is your zip code?

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* 2. Please select all the activities you and members of your household participated in during the last 12 months.

Adventure sports (paragliding, ziplining, rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking)

Amusement (carousel, miniature train)

Athletics (sports, courts play, frisbee, track)

Camping activities (cabin, yurt, RV, backpacking)

Game sports that require permits (fishing, hunting)

Nature and culture-based activities (wildlife viewing, growing vegetables/ fruits, or community gardens)

Play activities in parks (leisure walking, playground, dog park, disc golf)

Social activities in parks (picnicking, hanging out, special events, festivals)

Trails (walking, hiking, biking, roller-blading, horseback riding)

Water-based activities (swimming in pools and natural water bodies, surfing, paddling sports)

Yard games (bocce, cornhole, horseshoes)

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* 3. What activities would you like to try or spend more time doing? (Select all that apply.)

Adventure sports (paragliding, ziplining, rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking)

Amusement (carousel, miniature train)

Athletics (sports, courts play, frisbee, track)

Camping activities (cabin, yurt, RV, backpacking)

Game sports that require permits (fishing, hunting)

Nature and culture-based activities (wildlife viewing, growing vegetables/ fruits, or community gardens)

Play activities in parks (leisure walking, playground, dog park, disc golf)

Social activities in parks (picnicking, hanging out, special events, festivals)

Trails (walking, hiking, biking, roller-blading, horseback riding)

Water-based activities (swimming in pools and natural water bodies, surfing, paddling sports)

Yard games (bocce, cornhole, horseshoes)

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* 4. Why do you participate in outdoor recreation activities? (Select all that apply.)

To be outdoors

To have fun

For relaxation

To be closer to nature

To be with family and friends

It is free and/or affordable

For exercise or physical fitness

To visit/see new places and things

For solitude (to spend time with myself)

To escape the urban setting

To learn

For the challenge

Other (please specify)

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* 5. What keeps you from enjoying outdoor recreation activities more often or at all? (Select all that apply)

Lack of facilities/services that meet your needs

Alternative interests and/or activities

No parks within a reasonable distance

Facility conditions/cleanliness

Use regulations/restrictions

Costs/fees

Safety or security issues

Overcrowded

No personal time to visit

Accessibility of facilities

Lack of transportation

None

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Rank the following goals based on how you think North Carolina parks and recreation providers should prioritize them.

	Highest Priority	Medium Priority	Low Priority
Acquisition of new parks and open space	Acquisition of new parks and open space Highest Priority	Acquisition of new parks and open space Medium Priority	Acquisition of new parks and open space Low Priority
Development of new facilities at existing recreation sites	Development of new facilities at existing recreation sites Highest Priority	Development of new facilities at existing recreation sites Medium Priority	Development of new facilities at existing recreation sites Low Priority
Improvement and maintenance of existing infrastructure and facilities	Improvement and maintenance of existing infrastructure and facilities Highest Priority	Improvement and maintenance of existing infrastructure and facilities Medium Priority	Improvement and maintenance of existing infrastructure and facilities Low Priority
Transforming existing facilities to serve new purposes	Transforming existing facilities to serve new purposes Highest Priority	Transforming existing facilities to serve new purposes Medium Priority	Transforming existing facilities to serve new purposes Low Priority
Providing local, regional, and statewide trails	Providing local, regional, and statewide trails Highest Priority	Providing local, regional, and statewide trails Medium Priority	Providing local, regional, and statewide trails Low Priority
Providing educational programs and visitor services	Providing educational programs and visitor services Highest Priority	Providing educational programs and visitor services Medium Priority	Providing educational programs and visitor services Low Priority
Protection of natural resources	Protection of natural resources Highest Priority	Protection of natural resources Medium Priority	Protection of natural resources Low Priority

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* 7. The following are 8 actions that could improve and expand park facilities. Please select the level of importance of each to you and your household.

	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important	Don't Know
Develop more traditional recreation opportunities (trails, campgrounds, playgrounds, picnicking, etc.)	Develop more traditional recreation opportunities (trails, campgrounds, playgrounds, picnicking, etc.) Very Important	Develop more traditional recreation opportunities (trails, campgrounds, playgrounds, picnicking, etc.) Somewhat Important	Develop more traditional recreation opportunities (trails, campgrounds, playgrounds, picnicking, etc.) Not Important	Develop more traditional recreation opportunities (trails, campgrounds, playgrounds, picnicking, etc.) Don't Know
Acquire more land for the preservation of habitat and naturally and/or historically significant features of the state	Acquire more land for the preservation of habitat and naturally and/or historically significant features of the state Very Important	Acquire more land for the preservation of habitat and naturally and/or historically significant features of the state Somewhat Important	Acquire more land for the preservation of habitat and naturally and/or historically significant features of the state Not Important	Acquire more land for the preservation of habitat and naturally and/or historically significant features of the state Don't Know
Provide environmental / nature education at select parks.	Provide environmental / nature education at select parks. Very Important	Provide environmental / nature education at select parks. Somewhat Important	Provide environmental / nature education at select parks. Not Important	Provide environmental / nature education at select parks. Don't Know
Improve conditions of existing parks	Improve conditions of existing parks Very Important	Improve conditions of existing parks Somewhat Important	Improve conditions of existing parks Not Important	Improve conditions of existing parks Don't Know
Develop more outdoor adventure recreation opportunities (mountain biking, hiking in mountains, etc.)	Develop more outdoor adventure recreation opportunities (mountain biking, hiking in mountains, etc.) Very Important	Develop more outdoor adventure recreation opportunities (mountain biking, hiking in mountains, etc.) Somewhat Important	Develop more outdoor adventure recreation opportunities (mountain biking, hiking in mountains, etc.) Not Important	Develop more outdoor adventure recreation opportunities (mountain biking, hiking in mountains, etc.) Don't Know
Increase the level and quality of park services for day and/or overnight visitors (food trucks, equipment rental, outdoor programs, etc.)	Increase the level and quality of park services for day and/or overnight visitors (food trucks, equipment rental, outdoor programs, etc.) Very Important	Increase the level and quality of park services for day and/or overnight visitors (food trucks, equipment rental, outdoor programs, etc.) Somewhat Important	Increase the level and quality of park services for day and/or overnight visitors (food trucks, equipment rental, outdoor programs, etc.) Not Important	Increase the level and quality of park services for day and/or overnight visitors (food trucks, equipment rental, outdoor programs, etc.) Don't Know
Actively pursue watershed protection and preservation of environmentally sensitive areas.	Actively pursue watershed protection and preservation of environmentally sensitive areas. Very Important	Actively pursue watershed protection and preservation of environmentally sensitive areas. Somewhat Important	Actively pursue watershed protection and preservation of environmentally sensitive areas. Not Important	Actively pursue watershed protection and preservation of environmentally sensitive areas. Don't Know
Support local/state economic development/tourism by focusing on the economic value of parks and recreation.	Support local/state economic development/tourism by focusing on the economic value of parks and recreation. Very Important	Support local/state economic development/tourism by focusing on the economic value of parks and recreation. Somewhat Important	Support local/state economic development/tourism by focusing on the economic value of parks and recreation. Not Important	Support local/state economic development/tourism by focusing on the economic value of parks and recreation. Don't Know

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* 8. How do you show your support to local, state, and national parks' outdoor recreation? Please select all that apply.

Volunteer at a park for events, athletic programs, clean up events, etc.

Donate money.

Provide feedback about facilities, programs, and services.

Join friends groups, non-profit organizations that support parks.

Join local agency’s parks advisory boards or commissions.

Call representatives or elected officials to support legislation that supports parks.

Other (please specify)

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* 9. The cost to offer outdoor recreation opportunities across the state is rising faster than the ability to pay for these costs. As services and inflation continue to grow, this will become a bigger funding issue. Knowing this, which of the following would you support as an alternative source of funding for land acquisition and/or development of outdoor recreational areas and/or facilities?

	Very Supportive	Supportive	Neutral	Not Supportive	Not at all Supportive
Third-party commercial user fees (i.e. vendor)	Third-party commercial user fees (i.e. vendor) Very Supportive	Third-party commercial user fees (i.e. vendor) Supportive	Third-party commercial user fees (i.e. vendor) Neutral	Third-party commercial user fees (i.e. vendor) Not Supportive	Third-party commercial user fees (i.e. vendor) Not at all Supportive
User fees (i.e. permits, rentals)	User fees (i.e. permits, rentals) Very Supportive	User fees (i.e. permits, rentals) Supportive	User fees (i.e. permits, rentals) Neutral	User fees (i.e. permits, rentals) Not Supportive	User fees (i.e. permits, rentals) Not at all Supportive
Personal taxes	Personal taxes Very Supportive	Personal taxes Supportive	Personal taxes Neutral	Personal taxes Not Supportive	Personal taxes Not at all Supportive
Donations (i.e. land, estate planning)	Donations (i.e. land, estate planning) Very Supportive	Donations (i.e. land, estate planning) Supportive	Donations (i.e. land, estate planning) Neutral	Donations (i.e. land, estate planning) Not Supportive	Donations (i.e. land, estate planning) Not at all Supportive
Concessions and sales	Concessions and sales Very Supportive	Concessions and sales Supportive	Concessions and sales Neutral	Concessions and sales Not Supportive	Concessions and sales Not at all Supportive
Dedicated funding source (i.e. excise tax)	Dedicated funding source (i.e. excise tax) Very Supportive	Dedicated funding source (i.e. excise tax) Supportive	Dedicated funding source (i.e. excise tax) Neutral	Dedicated funding source (i.e. excise tax) Not Supportive	Dedicated funding source (i.e. excise tax) Not at all Supportive
Bond referendum	Bond referendum Very Supportive	Bond referendum Supportive	Bond referendum Neutral	Bond referendum Not Supportive	Bond referendum Not at all Supportive
None	None Very Supportive	None Supportive	None Neutral	None Not Supportive	None Not at all Supportive

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* 10. What is your age (years)?

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* 11. Are you or any members of your family of Hispanic, Spanish, or Latino/a/x ancestry?

Yes (if so how many members of your household?)

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* 12. Which of the following best describes your race/ethnicity? [Check ALL that apply.]

Asian or Asian Indian

Black or African American

American Indian or Alaskan Native

White or Caucasian

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

Other (please specify)

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* 13. Do you own or rent your current residence?

Own

Rent

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* 14. Do you have personal transportation?

Yes