More than 75 percent of Americans participate in active outdoor recreation each year. OIA is committed to ensuring that our public lands offer high-quality recreational experiences. To this end, OIA lobbies for increased funding for public lands and asks policymakers to ensure public lands are managed to ensure the recreational resource is preserved and enhanced.

OIA is also committed to the notion that every child should have a trail, park or green space within 15 minutes of their home. This will require an increased investment in our nation's close-to-home recreation infrastructure.

Finally, we work with policymakers make certain they recognize the importance of outdoor recreation's $730 billion contribution to the U.S. economy and the importance of recreation to the physical and spiritual health of the nation.

RECREATION ON PUBLIC LANDS
Active outdoor recreation contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy. The vast majority of this powerful economic activity takes place on public lands managed by the federal government, making the voice for recreation at the national level essential for our customers and our industry. We seek to engage Americans of all ages in active, outdoor lifestyles and ensure they have quality places to play.

In 2010, the OIA Recreation program will:

Promote outdoor recreation and recreation infrastructure

• Secure full funding for the federal portion of Land and Water Conservation Fund to protect and enhance quality outdoor recreation venues across the country.
• Work to enact the Department of Interior’s Treasured Landscapes initiative.
• Support recreation as a core mission for the USDA Forest Service and protect quality, diverse backcountry recreation through protection of Forest Service Roadless Areas.
• Secure annual funding for the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System to protect and manage recreation gems.
• Promote recreation-based public lands funding in economic stimulus and jobs legislation.

Promote Close-to-Home Recreation

• Secure full funding for the Land and Water Conservation State Assistance program.
• Support funding for the Recreation Trails Program managed by the Department of Transportation and the visionary national network of recreation, trails and parks proposed in livable cities legislation.

Seek to connect America’s youth with outdoor recreation and nature

• Support legislation aimed at reconnecting kids with nature and outdoor activities.
• Engage policymakers with youth leaders promoting active lifestyles.

Promote funding for resource management and recreation

• Provide quality experiences across the recreation spectrum through implementation of travel management plans on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands.
• Ensure fire suppression costs no longer derail core Forest Service programs such as recreation by ensuring adequate funding of the newly established Flame Fund.

Support the passage of comprehensive climate change legislation

• Ensure that comprehensive climate change legislation reflects the needs of the outdoor industry and enhances natural-area protection and recreation on federal lands and waters.