Outdoor recreation is taking center stage at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Secretary Ryan Zinke recently proclaimed that “Recreation is Back” in a video (view it here) and is now enlisting a new “Made in America” Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee to assist that effort. The 16-member panel meets tomorrow, July 17. Its top recreation and tourism industry leaders will discuss innovative ways to help visitors access, enjoy and conserve our public lands and waters.
Secretary Zinke will open the meeting. Rick May, Senior National Advisor on Recreation and an ex officio member of the committee, will explain Secretarial Orders 3365 and 3366 – which established the Senior National Advisor position and directed Interior bureaus to create plans to reduce barriers to and to expand recreational opportunities on public lands and waters. Other key Interior leaders including NPS Deputy Director Dan Smith will outline proposed changes which will elevate recreation operations.
The committee will discuss additional important topics:
- departmental reorganization and opportunities for recreation;
- technology and the outdoors;
- infrastructure improvements;
- public-private partnerships;
- fair, efficient and convenient fee collection, and more.
More information on the Advisory Committee – including its members – is here.