The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) convened its Business Council and association members in Washington, D.C. this week for a high-impact fly-in, bringing together leaders from across the industry to engage directly with Congress, federal agencies, and senior White House officials.
The message was clear and consistent throughout: this is a defining moment for America’s outdoor recreation economy.
A $1.3 Trillion Economic Force at an Inflection Point
New data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that outdoor recreation is a $1.3 trillion economic powerhouse, supporting 5.2 million jobs and creating thriving economies and jobs in every state.
At the same time, industry leaders emphasized a more nuanced reality: growth is beginning to slow amid broader economic headwinds. That makes this moment not just one of opportunity, but of urgency.
Business certainty and strategic, sustained access and infrastructure investment—particularly on the public lands and waters that underpin the entire outdoor economy—will be critical to maintaining momentum and ensuring long-term resilience.
Advancing Key Priorities for the Outdoor Economy
Across every meeting, industry leaders rallied around a focused set of priorities to strengthen the foundation of outdoor recreation in the United States:
- Legacy Restoration Fund: Support for America the Beautiful Act to reauthorize and strengthen the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) that was created in the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and signed into law by President Trump in 2020.
- Outdoor Recreation Economy: Newly released U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data on the $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy and driving sustainable growth in states across the country.
- Keeping Public Lands Public & Accessible: Access to outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters contributes an average of $351 million to the economy every day. Investing in and maintaining access to our shared natural resources for recreation as not only a business imperative but also a consistent, high-return investment in the nation’s health and economic growth.
- Innovation & Technology: Opportunities for partnership with the outdoor recreation industry, especially related to implementing the EXPLORE Act and enhancing access to outdoor recreation through innovation and technology.
- America’s Outdoor Era: Integrate outdoor recreation into federal public health strategies to address chronic disease, physical inactivity, mental health challenges, and community wellbeing.
Together, these priorities reflect a broader vision: one where outdoor recreation is fully integrated into national policy conversations around economic resilience, infrastructure, and health.
Building on Proven Success
A central focus of the fly-in was the success—and future—of the Legacy Restoration Fund. Established through the Great American Outdoors Act and signed into law by President Trump in 2020, the LRF has already delivered transformative results, funding projects nationwide and improving critical infrastructure across public lands and waters.
From trails and campgrounds to marinas and visitor facilities, these investments have enhanced access, supported local economies, and improved the visitor experience.
Reauthorizing and strengthening the LRF now represents a generational opportunity to build on that success and ensure public lands and waters are equipped to meet growing demand as we celebrate America’s 250th and for the next 250 years to come.
Implementing the EXPLORE Act
ORR also convened a first-of-its-kind meeting with the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR), bringing together federal agency leaders and top outdoor industry and technology companies to advance collaboration on recreation data, technology, and access, following the Outdoor Recreation Technology & Innovation Summit last year.
Federal agency participants highlighted EXPLORE Act implementation efforts, including a coordinated approach to recreation data collection across agencies and future plans for pilot projects across the country.
The discussion marked FICOR’s first external public engagement with stakeholders and focused on how improved data sharing, interoperability, and how better data can enhance visitor experiences, support land management decisions, and strengthen outdoor recreation economies across the country.
Momentum for the Future of Outdoor Recreation
Just as important as the policy discussions was the level of engagement. ORR members met with offices on both sides of the aisle, Administration officials, and staff across federal land management agencies, reflecting broad interest and a willingness to collaborate with the outdoor recreation industry.
With momentum building around bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund and grow a sustainable outdoor recreation economy for the benefit of all Americans, the industry is well-positioned to help shape what comes next as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation and its unparalleled outdoor legacy.