Virginia Outdoors Plan

The Virginia Outdoors Plan is the state’s official document regarding land conservation, outdoor recreation and open space planning. It helps all levels of the public and private sectors meet needs pertaining to those issues. The plan provides guidance for the protection of lands through actions of the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF), and the plan is required in order for Virginia to take part in the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program. The 2007 edition of the Virginia Outdoors Plan (VOP) is the ninth written in accordance with §10.1-200 of the Code of Virginia.

The first VOP, Virginia's Common Wealth, was printed in 1965.

2011 Virginia Outdoors Survey

DCR conducts a survey every five years to identify the types of outdoor recreational activities in which Virginians participate. Even if some Virginians don’t get outdoors for recreation very often – or at all – it is important that we hear from such households to get a complete picture of our citizens' recreational preferences. This survey plays a pivotal role in the development of the Virginia Outdoors Plan. Click here to download the 2011 Virginia Outdoors Survey executive summary. Click here to get a copy of the actual survey. The survey was sent to nearly 14,000 adults; about 3,100 responded. To obtain the survey's appendices, please email Janit Llewellyn.

Public input meetings on the 2013 VOP

From December 2011 through Marcy 2012, planners with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation conducted 43 meetings across the state to gather public input for the 2013 Virginia Outdoors Plan. Approximately 480 citizens attended the meetings. Public input is being evaluated and integrated into the draft plan. Download a presentation about the VOP and a summary of information received during the public input process.

2007 Virginia Outdoors Plan

Those interested in the 2007 plan would also find the 2006 Virginia Outdoors Survey valuable. It covers citizens' outdoor recreation activities, park user preferences and opinions on natural resources and conservation. The survey is used extensively in developing the VOP.

The files below are PDF files. A few 2007 hard-copy VOPs are still available as well for $7.50 shipping and handling. You may also obtain the entire VOP on CD for a nominal price by calling (804) 786-5046 or emailing beth.reed@dcr.virginia.gov.

Click here to download the entire document at once. Otherwise, click below to download particular content. Click here to order the document from our online store or click here to download a form to order the VOP in hard copy form or on a CD.

• Cover
• Foreword
• Table of Contents
• Chapter I: Visionfor Virginia's Outdoors
• Chapter II: Outdoor Recreation Issues, Trends and Survey Findings
• Chapter III: Land Conservation
• Chapter IV: Green Infrastructure
• Chapter V: Economic Benefits of Recreation, Tourism and Open Space
• Chapter VI: Grant Opportunities for Outdoor Recreation, Open Space
• Chapter VII: Outdoor Recreation Programs and Initiatives
  • Introduction
  • Greenways and Trails
  • Blueways and Water Access
  • Historic and Landscape Resources
  • Scenic Resources
  • Scenic Highways, Virginia Byways
  • Scenic Rivers
  • Virginia Watersheds: The Chesapeake and Southern Rivers
  • Environmental and Land Stewardship Education
• Chapter VIII: Outdoor Recreation Planning and Other Related Issues
  • Changing Demographics and their Impact on Recreation Resources
  • Carrying Capacity of Outdoor Recreation Resources and Lands
  • Conservation and Outdoor Ethics
  • Crime Prevention in Public Spaces
  • Health
  • Impact of Climate Change on Outdoor Recreation
• Chapter IX: Resource Agencies
  • Introduction
  • A. Federal
    • National Parks
    • National Forests
    • National Wildlife Refuges, Fish Hatcheries
  • B. State
    • State Parks
    • State Fish and Wildlife Management Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
    • Virginia Marine Resources Commission
    • State Forests, Department of Forestry
    • Natural Areas, Natural Heritage Resources
    • Transportation Programs
  • C. Other Federal and State Lands
  • D. Local and Regional Parks and Open Spaces
  • E. Private Sector
• Chapter X: Regional Analysis/Recommendations
  • Introduction
  • PD 1 Lenowisco
  • PD 2 Cumberland
  • PD 3 Mount Rogers
  • PD 4 New River Valley
  • PD 5 Roanoke Valley/Alleghany
  • PD 6 Central Shenandoah
  • PD 7 Northern Shenandoah Valley
  • PD 8 Northern Virginia
  • PD 9 Rappahannock-Rapidan
  • PD 10 Thomas Jefferson
  • PD 11 Region 2000 Regional Commission
  • PD 12 West Piedmont
  • PD 13 Southside
  • PD 14 Piedmont
  • PD 15 Richmond Regional
  • PD 16 George Washington Regional Commission
  • PD 17 Northern Neck
  • PD 18 Middle Peninsula
  • PD 19 Crater
  • PD 22 Accomack-Northampton
  • PD 23 Hampton Roads
• Appendices
  • Appendix A. Legislative Authority for Virginia Outdoors Plan
  • Appendix B. Organizational References
  • Appendix C. Guidelines for Outdoor Recreation Planning
  • Appendix D. Demand, Supply and Need for Outdoor Recreation Areas
  • Appendix E. Trail Survey Results
  • Appendix F. Environmental Review Process
  • Appendix G. Virginia's Wildlife Action Plan
  • Appendix H. Virginia’s United Land Trusts (VaULT) Strategic Plan
  • Appendix I. Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Appendix J. Wetlands
  • Appendix K. National Park Service Partnership Programs in Virginia
• All references are at the end of each major chapter
• Glossary
• Index and Acknowledgements