Outdoor recreation workshop starts today

The CNMI-wide workshop for the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, or SCORP, would start its workshops today, Monday, and is the ideal time to provide feedback on how you want to play and exercise in your future neighborhoods.

Starting with Saipan, the SCORP site assessments and public workshops will start today, Aug. 5, 2019, at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe from 5pm to 7pm for the public. The center will be reserved from 9am to 11am for government agencies and stakeholders for provide their input.

The Rota workshop follows tomorrow, Aug. 6, 2019, at the Sinapalo Youth Center from 3pm to 6pm for the public, government agencies, and stakeholders while Tinian’s workshop is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019 at the Tinian Public Library from 3pm to 5:30pm, also for the public, government agencies, and stakeholders.

The SCORP will outline the current and future needs for outdoor recreation and open space protection. The plan includes public input with a team from Horsley Witten Group, Inc. involved with the advisory committee, which will hold stakeholder meetings and interviews, along with public workshops to allow the public to share their input.

“I encourage our community to provide their input on our most precious resources. This will strengthen our plans to better conserve, develop and improve accessibility. Overall, the creation of this plan will strengthen our efforts for community-based activities and tourism. I am very pleased to see this moving forward as this grant program is fully funded, and all technical assistance will go toward improving public lands and recreation for years to come,” said Gov. Ralph DLG Torres in a statement.

The Torres administration in a previous statement announced that the CNMI was recently awarded $131,162 to plan and develop a new comprehensive outdoor recreation plan for 2019-2024. The money is a National Park Service grant issued through the U.S. Department of the Interior.

“The SCORP will meet the National Park Service’s planning eligibility requirements for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund program…a valuable source of support for protecting resources and providing facilities for public recreational use,” a statement from the administration noted, adding that the SCORP will also include wetlands priority plans, which is a requirement under federal law.