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No. R-203. House concurrent resolution designating February 16, 2024 as Outdoor Recreation Day at the State House.
(H.C.R.149)
Offered by: Representatives Dolan of Waitsfield, Jerome of Brandon, Anthony of Barre City, Bluemle of Burlington, Bongartz of Manchester, Bos-Lun of Westminster, Boyden of Cambridge, Brennan of Colchester, Brown of Richmond, Burke of Brattleboro,
Campbell of St. Johnsbury, Carpenter of Hyde Park, Carroll of Bennington, Demrow of
Corinth, Dickinson of St. Albans Town, Farlice-Rubio of Barnet, Graning of Jericho,
Gregoire of Fairfield, Hango of Berkshire, Harrison of Chittenden, Holcombe of Norwich,
Howard of Rutland City, Krasnow of South Burlington, Labor of Morgan, LaLonde of
South Burlington, Lipsky of Stowe, Marcotte of Coventry, McCann of Montpelier, McCoy of Poultney, McGill of Bridport, Mihaly of Calais, Morrissey of Bennington, Mrowicki of
Putney, Nicoll of Ludlow, Ode of Burlington, Page of Newport City, Priestley of Bradford,
Rice of Dorset, Roberts of Halifax, Sammis of Castleton, Scheu of Middlebury, Sheldon of Middlebury, Sibilia of Dover, Sims of Craftsbury, Squirrell of Underhill, Toleno of
Brattleboro, Torre of Moretown, White of Bethel, Williams of Barre City, and Williams of
Granby Offered by: Senators Clarkson, Bray, Brock, Cummings, Gulick, Harrison, Ram Hinsdale, White, and Wrenner Whereas, Vermont is proud of its unparalleled and diverse natural landscape, and it is a global destination for many types of world-class outdoor recreation, and Whereas, our State’s outdoor recreational assets consist of over 8,000 miles of public access trails, including 150 miles of recreational rail trails; 360,000 acres of wildlife management areas, State forests, and State parks; and more than six million acres of
hunting-accessible land, and there are over 40 alpine and cross-country ski areas, and Whereas, in 2012 Acts and Resolves No. 77, the General Assembly designated skiing and snowboarding as the State’s official winter sports, and Whereas, the importance of welcoming everyone, regardless of ethnicity or background,
to enjoy outdoor recreational pursuits is recognized, and outdoor recreational venues embrace the intrinsic community values of inclusion and representation, and Whereas, outdoor recreation creates business opportunities, attracts new residents, and offers workforce pathways that incentivize young Vermonters to remain in the State, and Whereas, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, in fiscal year 2022, in businesses located in all 14 Vermont counties, outdoor recreation spending totaled $1.9
billion, and the industry employed over 15,000 persons, comprising nearly five percent of
the Vermont workforce, and Whereas, Vermont Outdoor Recreation Day is an occasion to celebrate the importance of outdoor recreation to the economy, to the quality of life, and to the mental and physical well-being of Vermonters and visitors, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly designates February 16, 2024 as Vermont Outdoor Recreation Day at the State House, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development, the Secretary of Natural VT LEG #374724 v.1
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Resources, the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, the Commissioner of
Tourism and Marketing, the Executive Director of the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance,
the Executive Director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, and the President of
the Vermont Ski Areas Association.
VT LEG #374724 v.1