Outdoor RecreationPlan of Work

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Gallatin County CES

Title:
Outdoor Recreation
MAP:
Healthy Communities
Agents Involved:
Hull, Broderick, Stewart
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Active Living and Health Promotions General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Trail Design
Situation:
Outdoor recreation is key in helping address some of today’s pressing health care issues. Creating walkable and bike-able areas and making improvements
to the built environment can encourage active living and better overall health for the community at large.

It's been shown that parks, trails and other recreational amenities create places where people want to live, work and play. The improvement and/or expansion of current outdoor recreation areas can have a positive impact on a community's economic development.
Long-Term Outcomes:
- Expansion of existing outdoor recreation areas (ORA's)
- Creation of new ORA's
- Establishment of funding source expressly for outdoor recreation
- "Friends of Gallatin ORA's" group formed to help maintain outdoor areas
Intermediate Outcomes:
- Greater number of citizens utilizing current ORA's
- Establishment of a county organization to help oversee and give guidance to county leadership in matters pertaining to ORA's
- Obtain funding for equipment necessary for ORA trail creation and maintenance
- Organized outdoor recreation events throughout the calendar year
Initial Outcomes:
- Marketing plan for outdoor recreation opportunities and events in the county
- More county residents will become acquainted with county ORA's
- 2 organized outdoor recreation events at county ORA's
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: More county residents will become acquainted with county ORA's

Indicator: Creation of ORA Marketing Plan

Method: YES or NO

Timeline: 3 - 6 months


Intermediate Outcome: Increase or programs and education lessons at ORA

Indicator: Greater number of citizens utilizing county ORA's

Method: Survey instruments, digital counters at ORA entrances

Timeline: 12 months


Long-term Outcome: Increase number of ORA's volunteers and leaders.

Indicator: More Gallatin Countians are volunteering organizing programs at the ORAs in the community

Method: tabulation

Timeline: 18 - 24 months

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Gallatin County Residents

Project or Activity: ORA Field Day at newest county park

Content or Curriculum: Informal gathering designed to highlight the new park's many opportunities for outdoor recreation, i.e., hiking, horseback riding, fishing, etc.

Inputs: Locally developed park maps and brochures, tractors and wagons

Date: Fall 2020


Audience: Gallatin County Residents

Project or Activity: Wildflower Walks

Content or Curriculum: Agent, specialist, or leader led program designed to show the many species of wildflowers present at county ORA's

Inputs: Wildflower manuals, event promotion

Date: Spring 2021


Audience: Gallatin County Residents

Project or Activity: "Hiking Hartig" series

Content or Curriculum: Agent led physical fitness program wherein participants will meet weekly for a month and hike different parts of Hartig Nature Preserve

Inputs: Program promotion

Date: Summer 2021


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Fishing Club/Derby

Content or Curriculum: 4-H

Inputs: Extension staff, volunteers, Fairgrounds

Date: Spring/Summer 2021


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Soccer for Success

Content: Soccer Association, UK

Inputs: Soccer Association, Extension Staff, Volunteers, Schools

Date: Fall, Spring 2020-2021



Success Stories

Volunteers Make Hartig Park Shine!

Author: David Hull

Major Program: Community Leadership Development

Volunteers Make Hartig Park Shine!

Hartig Park and Wildlife Reserve, Gallatin County's newest park, is comprised of over 530 acres of unspoiled beauty. When the previous Gallatin County Judge Executive first approached Extension to seek help in converting this old piece of property into a functioning county park, one of the first things he said was, "Of course, we don't have much money". And that's when we knew how important the roles of volunteers were going to be in accomplishing this challenge.As a result

Full Story

Hartg Park: A Hiker's Dream

Author: David Hull

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Hartg Park: A Hiker's Dream

Months of near isolation due to the COVID-19 outbreak has many people going a bit stir-crazy. These conditions have led many people to look for new things to do in settings that provide social distancing but still allows them to do things in small groups. This explains why the number of visitors to Hartig Park and Nature Reserve has skyrocketed over the past year. The majority of the park's visitors come to walk or hike the trails. Most hikers find out about the park through word of mou

Full Story

4-H Fishing Derby

Author: Lora Stewart

Major Program: Natural Resources

Each summer for the past four years, Gallatin County 4-H has offered a fishing derby at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds.  Last year because of the pandemic, we offered a virtual fishing derby which children and parents enjoyed.  This is a joint adventure with the fairboard, the county, several local businesses and tourism. "Kids enjoy feeling included and there isn't a better way to instill responsibility in children than by teaching them how to fish", according to Califo

Full Story
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