To help provide Kansas communities with resources for recreational needs and trends across the state, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks (KDWP) has released the 2021 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). The SCORP serves to address emerging issues in Kansas outdoor recreation and set goals for the next five years. The document also summarizes actions taken during the last five years to address the goals of the 2015 SCORP.

Improved access to outdoor experiences is the common focus of this document. Because access is partially a measure of proximity or location, and because the state of Kansas has a very comprehensive dataset of amenities, this document examines how these data might help in the planning process. The report strives to illustrate where access to recreation experiences is adequate or in need of enhancement – to define gaps in service or identify outdoor experience deserts.