Wisconsin’s First-Ever Regional Outdoor Rec Plan Poised For Completion

eight western Wisconsin counties will submit unified regional plan to USDA for approval

The state’s Regional Outdoor Recreation Plan (RORP) will soon hit the USDA’s desk in hopes of gaining approval. The 164-page document was a 16-month effort between key stakeholders among eight western Wisconsin counties and could serve as a foundational turning point for the region.

A first-ever endeavor for Wisconsin, if not beyond state lines, the RORP is the product of Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin and Trempealeau counties’ shared vision to connect and bolster their rural rec scenes – consequently integrating the region’s economic, social and environmental goals...

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How Data Was Collected & Analyzed

A steering committee made up of representatives from all eight counties guided the RORP’s creation. Additional professional support was provided by the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (WCWRPC), Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission, Bluebird Consulting and Visit Eau Claire. Nearly 200 individuals had their fingerprints on the RORP during its 16-month planning process...

Click here for the latest Regional Outdoor Recreation Plan (RORP) draft, shared on Dec. 23, 2025 • View additional information about the plan, interactive maps, individual county survey results and more online at 8-county-rorp-wcwrpc.hub.arcgis.com/.

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Ken Notes: Please read the entire article at the link. We are proud to have been a part of this process and look forward to continuing to work on creating a destination for both Wisconsin and the Region.