Final Report Katahdin Tourism Planning Charrette

Katahdin Outdoor Recreation Tourism Planning Charrette

Final Report PlaceWorks Consulting Terrence J. DeWan and Associates Ronald Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

A Charrette?

• What is a charrette? • An intensive planning session engaging a

range of stakeholders focusing on single question or issue.

• An exercise in collaborative thinking and visioning – working together across normal dividing lines.

Our Charrette December 4, 2013. Katahdin Region Higher Education Center, East Millinocket Purpose: To identify key investments required to improve the Katahdin Area visitor experience. Target market: general touring visitor, those coming to explore the region as opposed to coming for a specific outdoor recreation activity

Event Sponsorship

• Katahdin Tourism Partnership. An open network of government, business, and community leaders supporting development of the Katahdin Woods and Waters Scenic Byway and strengthening tourism in the Katahdin Area.

• Funding for the event: Elmina B. Sewall Foundation

Participants

• 51 participants • Broad representation: town and county

governments, state government, landowners, lodging and restaurant operators, guides and outfitters, community and recreation groups, conservation and economic development organizations.

Charrette Activities

• “Rate Your Region” exercise using keypad polling.

• Map review, relative location of outdoor recreation assets, visitor services, etc.

• Investment game: “If your team had ten million dollars, how would you invest the money?”

Rate Your Region How do you think a visitor would rate the Katahdin Area? • Natural quality (healthy woods and waters) • Visual quality (includes man made features,

downtowns) • Public services (public restrooms, medical services) • Communications (cell phone, wi-fi) • Transportation (roads, transportation services) • Travel information (Internet, maps) • Recreational infrastructure (trails, boat launches) • Recreational services (guides, rentals) • Visitor amenities (food and lodging) • Related experiences (events, local goods, museums)

The “rate your region” exercise was made possible by the use of digital polling units. These units were dispersed to the audience for the duration of the exercise. Answers were received by a device plugged into a laptop, and then translated instantaneously to a bar graph on-screen.

Example - Before Example - After

Digital polling unit

How did we do? • Natural quality – good to excellent! • Visual Quality – poor (deterioration of buildings,

downtowns). • Public services – public restrooms poor, trash collection

poor, medical services good to excellent. • Transportation – roads, poor to fair. • Cell coverage – poor to very poor! • Visitor information – could be better! • Recreation infrastructure and services – fair to good. • Food – fair. • Lodging – good.

Where to invest?

• To enhance strengths? Highest number of responses: Invest in recreation infrastructure (trails, boat launches, etc.)

• To address weaknesses? Highest number: Invest in improving visitor information.

Map Review

Major Landowners

Baxter State Park Katahdin

For. Mgmt. Elliotsville Pltn. Inc.

Tribal Lands

Debsconeag Lakes/TNC

Nahmakanta

AMC Maine Woods

KiJo Mary

North Maine Woods

Cell Phone Coverage

Community Services

Fire/Rescue Police Hospitals

Churches Stores

Airports Float Planes

Info Centers

Recreation Infrastructure

Visitor Amenities

Restaurants Lodging Campgrounds Museums Historic Sites

Visual Resources

Scenic Byway

Scenic Rivers

Scenic Lakes

Nat’l. Natural Landmarks

Unique Natural Features

Wildlife Viewing

Observations • Katahdin Area is rich in natural, scenic, and recreation

resources. • Significant percentage of land in large block ownerships and

some form of conservation. (Recreation access policies?) • Current concentration of amenities and services in

“frontcountry,” recreation infrastructure in “backcountry.” • Many recreation sites and services not represented on maps,

especially on north side. (Map data take from public sources – out of date?)

• Little recreation infrastructure or visitor service west of Baxter. Maybe development area should include Mattawamkeag (to the east).

Investment Game

• Five teams of ten each, members representing different groups (landowners, government, business, etc.)

• Each group has $10 million to invest (“Katahdin Kash”)

• Nominate projects (new trails, visitors center, etc.), then vote to prioritize.

• Create map using craft pieces to show high priority projects.

High Priority Projects • All groups want a visitor information center in Medway! • Three groups want additional investment in visitor

information system (Internet, signage, maps, etc.). • Four groups advocate for investment in trails and recreation

access (motorized and non-motorized, big focus on bicycles). • Five groups propose establishing an on-going investment

fund to support business (loans) and infrastructure development (grants).

• Other proposals include increasing cell phone coverage, establishing a wildlife research center, making a bigger investment in marketing the area, and creating a regional tourism development organization.

Funny Money or Real?

• Investment teams had $10 million to invest (“Katahdin Kash”).

• When asked to write down how much real money their organization or business was likely to invest in the area over the next ten years, participants projected a total investment of nearly $50 million! (That’s Real Dollars! Wow!)

Already Happening!

• Scenic Byway gateways and turnouts being planned, MDOT.

• New trails being developed, including bicycle from Matagammon to Moosehead!

• New degree program in outdoor recreation, Katahdin Region Higher Education Center.

• Millinocket downtown revitalization projects. • And more!

General Findings from the Charrette • Make improvements to “product” before big marketing

push. • Focus early recreation improvements on “frontcountry”

areas to meet needs of general touring market (“short hikes to scenic places,” “quiet water paddling for families with children”).

• Upgrade visitor information system as soon as possible. (integrated signage, websites, maps and brochures, centers)

• Work with what we have. Use network approach. Lot’s going on already!

• Link to other areas (Moosehead, Grand Lake) when to our advantage.

Recommendations from Event Team

• Rely on Katahdin Tourism Partnership for coordination, “clearinghouse” role.

• Form a trails group to coordinate trail development (motorized and non-motorized).

• Hire a visitor information system designer to develop a coordinated graphics / communications plan (before investing in new signage, materials)

• Identify and convene those who could contribute to an on-going development fund.

Are you interested?

• Get on Partnership mailing list. • Join Partnership “steering committee.” • Help start new trails group. • Help design a visitor information system. • Help form an on-going development fund. • www.katahdinpartnership.org