OutdoorNebraska

FORT ROBINSON STATE PARK TUBING Floating The Good Life • Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 11 While the public may not be a direct stakeholder in the planning and implementation process, learning what their suggestions are and how well they align with the established core outcomes has value. Determine at what point in your planning process you have information of what your water trail project will be to share and identify what method of public outreach will be most effective within your community. This may include a public notice on a city/ county/Natural Resource District website, promotion through local news and radio outlets, or social media resources inviting a time and location for gathering to learn about the project and provide feedback. As the public will be the end user of the project, they are a stakeholder in the process. Within the group defined as "the public," there may be groups that could turn into a potential partnership, which reveals a funding, maintaining, or promotional opportunity. Look for groups and organizations that may be present in your community, including: • Nebraska Game and Parks Commission • Natural Resource Districts • Trail organizations • Community organizations • Environmental organizations • Merchants and outfitters Public suggestions may exceed the achievable outcome's budget and available site area, but an opportunity that the stakeholder group had not thought of might be within those suggestions. Listen to what the public has to say. Also, use this engagement effort as a way to educate the public about your achievable outcome and champion for what the project will provide the public. I D E N T I F Y C O R E O B J E C T I V E S A thorough planning process will seek what the project wants to accomplish and how it will be achieved. The process will identify needs and wants, which will form the concept as an initial step. Next, planning will move those needs and wants to a set of core objectives the project is to serve. Core objectives are simply what you want your project to be. How large is the project area, what type of watercraft do you want to provide for, what day-use amenities do you want to provide, and/or are there other park and recreational uses you want this project to serve? These objectives will guide the balance of the planning process. The next step is the evaluation of the objectives and questions confirmed that an achievable outcome could be met. Unachievable outcomes quickly develop discouragement of stakeholders, which can be reflected in the challenges faced or stop the project altogether. If this occurs, stakeholders should revise the objectives while staying true to the intent of the project as you plan and implement to meet the budget available.

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