I’ve always been an avid skier. From about age six through high school and beyond, just about every weekend and many holidays were spent at the mountain. Encouraged by inexpensive season passes, supportive family members, and generous friends, each fall I desperately awaited opening day, at one point even hosting annual “pray for snow” parties. Even now, there’s still no place I’d rather be on a winter weekend than a local ski resort.

I’m not alone—many residents cite outdoor recreation as a key quality-of-life differentiator for our region, and it’s a key economic driver, too. 

According to an analysis from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, winter “snow and ice” recreation activities contribute more than $1.7 billion to the state economy, and that figure balloons to more than $41 billion when you consider outdoor recreation more broadly (i.e. swimming, boating, camping, outdoor sports, etc.). Spokane County’s public lands alone contribute $1.3 billion to the state economy and support 12,000 jobs, not including the necessary equipment (i.e. hiking boots, tents, etc.) for such activities.

To be sure, the industry is growing, and supports well-paying tourism jobs in outlying communities which have faced chronic disinvestment in recent years as resource-oriented fields have declined. It also aligns well with Spokane’s livability and “creative by nature” brand. 

So what more can be done to promote and expand the industry?

First, we focus on the fundamentals which make us so attractive to the recreationists in the first place––stellar trail access, unspoiled lakes and rivers, and high-quality parks. From the Riverfront Park renovation to the City of Spokane’s investment in stormwater infrastructure, much of this work is already underway. But public access is an unending challenge, and many of our region’s most significant assets—like the Centennial Trail—will require investment in coming years to close gaps and maintain a state of good repair.

Second, we can provide targeted services and support to companies and organizations working in the outdoor recreation space. Do area economic developers understand the challenges (i.e. workforce, healthcare costs, etc.) facing local ski resorts, marinas, and outdoors organizations? How can we build capacity within companies and organizations? Are there ways to pool marketing resources to amplify reach? 

Finally, access is more than infrastructure. To live up to our outdoorsy reputation, we must ensure that everyone who wishes to spend time outdoors has the opportunity to do so—no matter their income, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. At the very minimum, we can offer more programming and spaces at low or no cost, foster conversation and programming to promote equity in the industry, and implement more ADA-accessible trails and outdoors sites.

In the long-term, considering such strategies and investments in outdoor recreation will pay tremendous dividends not just to the local economy, but also to residents’ health, well-being, and quality of life—and to Spokane’s reputation as a world-class outdoor adventure city. 

Anthony Gill is an economic development professional and the founder of Spokane Rising, an urbanist blog focused on ways to make our city a better place to live.