Cape Cod Commission to develop regional outdoor asset inventory 

Improving access to information about Cape Cod’s recreational resources 

Cape Cod's abundant natural beauty draws millions of people each year to explore its beaches, forests, trails, and open spaces. The Cape Cod Commission is launching a new project to create a comprehensive inventory of the region's outdoor recreational assets.  

With support from a grant awarded by the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR), within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Commission will collaborate with the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts to create a comprehensive database featuring detailed site descriptions and images of recreational areas across Cape Cod. The project aims to improve planning and public access to information about the region's diverse natural resources.    

"Our goal is to help people better connect with the incredible outdoor resources Cape Cod has to offer," said Kristy Senatori, Cape Cod Commission Executive Director. "By bringing together information that is currently scattered across various platforms, we're making it easier for everyone to get outside, stay active, and appreciate the Cape's unique environment." 

This inventory will consolidate information currently found in places like town websites, nonprofit land trust maps, and municipal open space plans into a single, accessible platform. The inventory will include outdoor assets in each of Cape Cod’s 15 towns and incorporate insights from community feedback, local planning documents, and new research. Equity and inclusion are key priorities, focusing on identifying recreational assets in or accessible to Environmental Justice communities. Commission staff will develop a map-based application allowing users to explore the region's outdoor assets and provide comments or suggestions for additional sites. 

“Over the past 40 years, the Cape’s 15 towns and many local nonprofit land trusts have worked tirelessly to negotiate, raise funds and purchase more than 15,000 acres of critical open space lands.  We effectively doubled the amount of protected land in that time," said Mark Robinson, Cape Cod Compact of Conservation Trusts Executive Director. "We are now catching up on the long-term goal of making these community assets available for all to enjoy.” 

The Cape Cod Regional Policy Plan emphasizes the importance of recreational access to promote public health, community well-being, and sustainable economic development. Preserving and promoting access to outdoor recreation strengthens the quality of life and supports tourism, one of the Cape's most vital industries.  

“In every visitor survey we've done in the last decade, outdoor recreation is always the number one reason people come to Cape Cod,” said Paul Niedzwiecki, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO. “We're excited to work with the Commission to provide an easy-to-use platform that both visitors and residents can reference." 

The inventory will contribute to a statewide web platform for promoting outdoor recreation in Massachusetts and, in the long term, the Commission anticipates this work will lay the foundation for a one-stop hub for exploring the region's natural spaces, learning about stewardship and safety, and finding programs that connect people to nature. Modeled after a similar effort in the Berkshires, the site would expand awareness of the many ways people can experience Cape Cod outdoors.