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About Us
About the Roundtable
The California Roundtable on Recreation, Parks and Tourism seeks to be a forum for recreation and tourism providers and park agency professionals to share and collaborate on issues affecting the public access to great outdoor experiences and places.
General meetings are held every four months with the Executive Committee meeting between sessions to provide communications and policy reviews. The Roundtable also provides support to members and other applicants when issues of general concern need support.
The California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) provides administrative support to the Roundtable.
History of CRRPT
While there are national, regional and state coalitions, there had been little effort to date to forge a comprehensive coalition of all the major stakeholders in California who depend on recreation and tourism for their livelihood, use public lands and facilities for recreation, and manage public lands and facilities for recreational use and resource protection. While there have been and continue to be some differences between the various stakeholder groups, the viability of all these groups is interdependent and all can benefit from cooperative ventures.
California had 33 million residents in 1994 (now 40 million) and recreation is a major aspect of California’s lifestyle and identity both within its state borders and beyond. 54% of California’s land is in public ownership. California is a tourism magnet which attracts over 42 million out-of-state and 17 million international visitors annually. Recreation and tourism comprise the second largest industry in a state that constitutes the fifth-largest economy worldwide. Trend watchers look to California as an experimental melting pot and leading source for emerging recreation activities and spending patterns. California hosts a massive recreation and tourism activity – a large share of which is supported by and dependent on its publicly-managed lands and facilities. This suggested the potential for a beneficial symbiotic dialog to enhance this relationship and to help all parties involved to agree on and achieve mutual goals.
The California Roundtable on Recreation, Parks and Tourism was conceived as a forum to focus the collective perspectives, resources, and energies of the outdoor recreation and equipment manufacturers and retailers, the tourism and hospitality industry, major user groups, conservation groups, public land managers and educational institutions. The first Roundtable meeting was convened at the invitation of the California Department of Parks and Recreation on June 10, 1996. The first three meetings were largely organizational and focused on adopting a mission statement, three year goals, chartering committees (Executive, Marketing, Funding, Publicity, Facilities, Research and Education, funding and Legislation), and recruiting members. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the Roundtable members. Subsequent meetings focused on Roundtable projects and initiatives.
Goals
To promote and coordinate cooperative efforts between members
To increase understanding of and support for outdoor recreation
To address issues of importance to the future of outdoor recreation
To seek innovative and lasting sources of funding for operations, maintenance, capital outlay and acquisitions
Accomplishments
Produced the Get Healthier Outdoors Symposium, 2007
Produced California Visitor Capacity Management Workshop, July 2001
Produced a series of roadside rest map panels that highlight regional recreation destinations
Co-Sponsored Partnerships on Public Lands Symposium (2014)
Produced Connecting Californians to the Outdoors Symposium, May 2005
Sponsored Campers in California, Travel Patterns and Economic Impacts, July 2000
Sponsored Outdoor California, a printed guide to public and private outdoor activities throughout California
Produced the California Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights, 2004 (Governor Schwarzenegger endorsed the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights, July 2007)
Sponsor of the 2005, 2006, and 2008 California Public Lands Symposium
Sponsored California Cultural and Heritage Tourism Symposium, May 2005
Sponsor of the California Biodiversity Council "Children in Nature" meeting
Issues for the Future
Sustainable Parks
Access to Parks
Effects of Climate/Disasters on Parks
Carry Capacity and Economic Benefits