My name is Ross Pietrzak and I am a planner with the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (WCWRPC). We are continuing to promote a survey for residents and outdoor recreation advocates / users. I am sending you this email with the hope you can help ensure as many people as possible are made aware of this opportunity. The survey is being completed as part of our work for an 8-county regional outdoor recreation plan (RORP). If this is the first time you are hearing of the RORP, I’ve included a background and summary of the project in the paragraphs below. We are currently seeking input from residents and users to understand how people recreate in the area , how they feel about the recreation opportunities available, and what recreation opportunities they would like to see improved or created. The survey should take around 15-20 minutes to complete. We would ask that participants submit their responses no later than January 17th.
Background: This project is a partnership between several local, regional, and federal agencies. WCWRPC, the Mississippi River RPC, and National Park Service (NPS) are developing the plan for an 8-county area that includes Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, and Trempealeau counties. The project is being funded by a grant from USDA, as well as supporting funds from partner organizations. The plan will be completed by August 2025 and is being guided by the Rural Partners Network, which is made up of members from each of the counties in the planning area. The Rural Partners Network is a USDA-led program.
Plan Summary: The RORP will be comprised of two plans: an urban areas plan (led by NPS staff), and a rural areas plan (led by staff from the two RPCs). The urban area is comprised of the cities of Altoona, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire, along with the Village of Lake Hallie and portions of towns surrounding the City of Eau Claire. The goal of the plan is to identify regional outdoor recreation assets and amenities that can be highlighted and enhanced to increase tourism, spur economic development opportunities in the outdoor recreation and adjacent industries, and improve the quality of life for residents of the 8-county area.
Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rorp