Maine shifts SCORP to 10-year cycle; state seeks public input and explains LWCF rules

At a May webinar, Nicole Lares, outdoor recreation planner with the Bureau of Parks and Lands at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DCF), said Maine is moving its Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) to a 10-year cycle and extended the plan’s deadline to Sept. 26, 2026 while describing the public-input process and how SCORP guides eligibility for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants.

Lares said the primary function of SCORP "is to identify statewide demand for and supply of outdoor recreation" and to set planning priorities municipalities, tribes and other eligible entities use when applying for LWCF money. She told webinar attendees the state has assembled a steering committee and will gather public input through two surveys, focus groups and one-on-one interviews before drafting the plan.

Why it matters: SCORP is used by grant applicants and administrators to demonstrate how local projects tie into statewide recreation priorities. LWCF-funded sites carry long-term use requirements, and the plan helps communities compete for grants and align projects with state strategies.

Key details from the…