Where are our state’s most popular and iconic recreation destinations? Where are there gaps in critical recreational assets like walking paths, pools, or playgrounds? And how can state agencies and the Legislature help address these gaps? These are the questions that the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) set out to answer as they tackled a study funded by the Legislature to identify future recreational needs. This study, called the Recreational Assets of Statewide Significance (RASS), was released to the public last month.
Whether you’re a bird watcher, a member of a local climbing organization, or a city planner, you’ll find something interesting in the RASS study. The report looks at popular recreational activities and more than 16,000 assets across Washington that support them. It incorporated feedback from land managers, organizations, and individuals from across the state and outlines policy recommendations that will help inform future work to improve access to Washington’s outdoors.
Check out the report here, and make sure to spend some time playing with the interactive maps here. For more information and to contact the RCO, visit the RCO’s website.