Lone Pine State Park
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Medicine Rocks State Parks

KNOWLEDGE BASE

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CAPACITY


Montana Residents: Attitudes Towards Tourism 2021
This study was conducted to continue tracking the perception of the tourism industry in Montana.

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Montana State Parks sees record setting visitation in 2020
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Quantifying the boom in state park visitation in 2020.

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An Influential Voice In US Flyfishing Decries ‘Rivergeddon 2020’
Impacts of overuse on Montana rivers.

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Pandemic Crowds Bring ‘Rivergeddon’ to Montana’s Rivers
"Rivergeddon" on Montana rivers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Unnatural Disaster: Will America’s Most Iconic Wild Ecosystem Be Lost To A Tidal Wave Of People?
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The outlook for unprecedented population growth in Gallatin County, Montana.

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‘Zoom towns’ are exploding in the West
Exploring the "Zoom Town" phenomenon in the West.

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RECREATION ECONOMY


State Outdoor Business Alliance Network
The State Outdoor Business Alliance Network strives to strengthen America’s outdoor recreation economy in ways that leverage the interlinked potential of commerce, infrastructure, and participation.

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Federal Outdoor Recreation Trends: Effects on Economic Opportunities
This report summarizes recent trends and current projections to 2030 of recreation participation and total days of recreation for 17 key outdoor recreation activities common on federal lands.

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Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Rural Economic Development Toolkit
Toolkit to help rural communities build an outdoor recreation economy of their own.

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Inspiring the Future Outdoor Recreation Economy
2021 State Outdoor Business Alliance Network report discussing the outdoor recreation eceonomy and current trends.

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Trail Usage and Value – A Helena, MT Case Study
A case study of trail use and values focusing on Helena, Montana.

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Economic Impact of the Whitefish Trail
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Exploring the 2018 economic impact study of local recreation and the Whitefish Trail.

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Innovative New Ways to Count Outdoor Recreation: Using data from cell phones, fitness trackers, social media, and other novel data sources
Report reviewing the state of knowledge on how best to count recreation, exploring novel data sources and methods to supplement traditional, on-site counts.

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Headwaters Economics
An independent, nonprofit research group that works to improve community development and land management decisions.

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Bureau of Economic Analysis 2019 Montana Outdoor Recreation Report
2019 Montana Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account Report, including GDP, employment and compensation.

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Newcomers mean brain gain for rural Minnesota
Study investigating the changes in population and demographics of rural, non-metropolitan Minnesota counties between 1990 and 2000.

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Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, U.S. and States, 2019
Bureau of Economic Analysis statistics measuring the outdoor recreation economy for the nation.

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The Value of Montana’s Outdoors
Quantifying the value of Montana's outdoors.

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Tech and the Outdoors: How the “Montana Mystique” is Fueling Business Growth
Exploring the relationship between Montana’s growing tech industry and sense of place.

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Great Places for Tech in Montana: Butte
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Butte, Montana is becoming an affordable tech hub.

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PLANNING


Ready, Set, Plan!?

A guide for anyone who wants to better understand trails planning, decision making, and trail projectdevelopment.

A guide for anyone who wants to better understand trails planning, decision making, and trail project development.

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Benefits of Recreational Trails in Washington
This analysis describes and quantifies the many benefits associated with walking, running, biking, hiking, and backpacking on trails in Washington.

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Main Street Planning Toolkit
These materials are intended to serve as a training resource for any interested individual or organization in the State of Montana.

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Federal Highway Administration Local Road Safety Plans
Explore this site to find everything you need to make a plan that fits your community and gets people home safely.

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AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit
Guide for how to assess and report on the safety and walkability of a street, intersection or neighborhood.

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Prickly Pear Land Trust
Prickly Pear Land Trust seeks to preserve and protect the rural character of the Prickly Pear Valley and adjoining lands in Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, Broadwater and Powell counties through voluntary and cooperative means.

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Bitterroot Land Trust
A private, non-profit organization that partners with landowners and our community to conserve clean water, wildlife habitat, and working farms and ranches in and around the Bitterroot Valley for present and future generations.

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The Trust for Public Land
Organization creating parks and protecting land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.

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Stoltze Lumber
Mass timber manufacturer focusing on whole build systems and high-level customer service with an intense focus on resource stewardship and management of timber.

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Gateway to Glacier Trails
Organization committed to developing and maintaining a network of trails within the Greater Glacier Ecosystem to foster stewardship and connect communities to open spaces.

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Community Outdoor Recreation Realization Project
Provides guidance to communities throughout Montana to support the planning, vision, and implementation for outdoor recreation.

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2020-2024 Montana Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
This plan acts as a resource for outdoor recreation providers and organizations. The goals and recommendations should guide future planning efforts, assist with grant applications, and be a unifying vision of outdoor recreation for the state.

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Parks and Improved Mental Health and Quality of Life
Exploring the correlation between parks and improved mental health and quality of life.

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Montana Community Reviews
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Community Reviews are comprehensive assessment programs that provide information and tools to help communities address priority issues and enhance quality of life for their residents.

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Main Street Montana Project – Choteau
Community background on Choteau, Montana.

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Economic Profile System
Socioeconomic search database.

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Planning and Development Challenges in Western Gateway Communities
Exploring the planning and development challenges in western gateway communities.

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FUNDING


Active Transportation Funding and Finance Toolkit
This toolkit is for anyone interested in expanding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

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DNRC MT-PLAN
The Montana Public Lands Access Network (MT-PLAN) is a new program to facilitate collaboration among recreationists, private landowners, and land management agencies to enhance public access throughout the state.

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Grant Programs
Grant programs and information.

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Tourism Grant Program
Awards funds to projects that strengthen Montana’s economy through the development and enhancement of the State’s tourism and recreation industry.

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Montana American Rescue Plan Act 2021
Coronavirus state and local recovery funds.

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Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development
MOTBD’s programs aim to support businesses through technical assistance, research, and access to grants and loans while inspiring visitation to maximize the economic impact of tourism, encourage private sector investment and ensure that Montana is a great place to live, work and play today and for future generations.

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Community Revitalization Assistance
Resources from across EPA to help communities protect the environment, improve health, and strengthen their economies.

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ORR Teams with Federal Agencies to Help Rural Communities Grow their Economies through Outdoor Recreation
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The Recreation Economy for Rural Communities assistance program, launched in 2019, is underway and ORR is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS) and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) to support implementation grants for communities who have undergone technical assistance.

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Recreation Economy at USDA Economic Development Resources for Rural Communities
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Resource guide for rural communities to identify resources that develop the recreation economy.

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PARTNERSHIPS


Elevating Outdoor Recreation Together
Opportunities for synergy between state offices of outdoor recreation and federal land-management agencies, the outdoor recreation industry, nongovernmental organizations, and local outdoor recreation providers.

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How Conservation and Recreation Groups Can Support Rural Communities
This white paper is intended to highlight the opportunities for alignment between rural community development and conservation.

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Montana Trails Coalition
Works with user groups, organizations, communities and citizens to promote, fund, and advocate for trails and outdoor recreation opportunities for public use in Montana and support the public land management agencies in providing quality, well maintained trails for public use and enjoyment.

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Somers Beach State Park
Support Somers Beach State Park

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DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION


Ready, Set, Plan!?

A guide for anyone who wants to better understand trails planning, decision making, and trail projectdevelopment.

A guide for anyone who wants to better understand trails planning, decision making, and trail project development.

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Trail Fundamentals and Trail Management Objectives
Guidebook providing an integrated means to consistently record and communicate the intended design and management guidelines for trail design, construction, maintenance and use.

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Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook
Guide covering basic trail construction, maintenance information and oriented to the needs of the trail worker.

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OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT


Visitor Use Management Framework: A Guide to Providing Sustainable Outdoor Recreation.
This framework is meant to be adaptable to different agencies’ policies and regulations and yet allow for a professional, comprehensive, and consistent approach to visitor use management on federally managed lands and waters.

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Electric Bicycle Position Statement

Electric Bicycle Position Statement

American Hiking Society E-bike position statement, trail sustainability, agency maintenance funding, impacts on hiking experience, impact on hiking community.

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eMTB Education
Supports trail access for Class 1 eMTBs and supports shared use on trails as long as access is not lost or impeded for traditional mountain bikes.

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Bears, Bikes and a Battle Over Access
Study results regarding impacts of bikes on wildlife.

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Allowing Motorized E-Bikes on Non-motorized Trails Impacts Wildlife, Other Trail Users
Details regarding the National Wildlife Federation's request for the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to withdraw their proposals to allow motorized E-bikes on non-motorized trails.

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Learn About the World of Electric Bikes
Provides an overview of E-bike regulations, policies and laws, rides and routes, rulemaking, and guidance for retailers, advocates and land managers.

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Forest Service Seeks a Balanced Approach to Access as Popularity of Electric Bicycles Surge
Proposed updates to agency guidelines on E-bike use.

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Park City Municipal Code 10-1-4.5 Non-Motorized Trail Use
Park City municipal code regarding non-motorized trail use.

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E-Bikes in Park City, Utah

https://www.parkcity.org/departments/trails-open-space/e-bikes

Park City E-bike regulations on single track trails and pathways.

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Visiting Parks and Trails in Missoula
City of Missoula parks and trails information and additional recreation resources.

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How to Use E-Scooters and E-Bikes
Outlines when and how E-bikes devices should be used in City of Boise bike lanes, on the Boise River Greenbelt and on city sidewalks.

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E-Bike Guide to Moab, Utah
Current E-bike rules within Moab and Grand County, broken up by area.

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E-Bikes on Public Lands
E-bikes on public lands (trail etiquette, what is the e-bike rule, guidance, etc.)

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Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs)
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Custer Gallatin National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map

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Electronic Bicycle Use
Forest Service official statement on E-bike use.

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Helena Open Lands and Trails
Helena's Open Lands and Trails Department

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ENGAGEMENT


Engaging Diverse Groups in Building Community Resiliency Through Stewardship
This resource provides a process, tools and case studies that will help park and recreation professionals thoughtfully explore how to engage in community building work around natural resources and conservation efforts.

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Practices for Engagement in the Time of COVID
Resources for online and traditional (but adapted) engagement.

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Community Engagement Resource Guide
This Community Engagement Resource Guide highlights the essential steps to performing meaningful engagement around neighborhood-level and park-system planning projects.

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Tips and Best Practices for Engaging Your Community
Guide with 10 key elements for effective community engagement.

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ADVOCACY


Outdoor Alliance
Outdoor Alliance works to protect and promote sustainable, equitable access for outdoor recreation through advocating for new legislation, collaboration with land managers, and protections for public lands and waters.

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Outdoor Industry Association
Central information hub highlighting current policy issues regarding climate, public lands, trade and recreation.

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DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY


Inclusive Healthy Places Companion Guide for Park and Recreation Professionals

This guide provides methods for addressing systemic barriers in order to advance health equity in public spaces.

This guide provides methods for addressing systemic barriers in order to advance health equity in public spaces.

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Parks and Recreation Report
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In February 2021, the NRPA Research team surveyed park and recreation leaders to gain a better understanding of their agencies’ efforts surrounding DEI practices.

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Universal Access Trails and Shared Use Paths Design, Management, Ethical, and Legal Considerations
This manual reviews Best Management Practices (“BMPs”) to utilize when planning, designing, constructing and maintaining pedestrian trails for universal accessibility—for providing trails usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without separate or segregated access for people with disabilities.

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A Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgment
Exploring why indigenous land acknowledgment is important, tips on creating a statement, and how to take action.

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Five Ways to Make the Outdoors More Inclusive
Summary of main ideas and action steps that emerged from a meeting to discuss problem areas and discussed possible solutions, and from subsequent conversations with outdoors experts from around the U.S.

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A Case For A Culturally Responsive Approach
With many ongoing "diversity and inclusion" efforts in the environmental field, how can racial disparity still be so stark?

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Disabled Hikers
Disabled Hikers is a project by disabled hikers for disabled hikers. They provide information and resources that will help those with disabilities know what to expect on a trail and plan accordingly.

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