Outdoor Recreation

Berkshire Blueprint 2.0

As the most recently identified primary economic cluster in the Berkshires, formally recognized in 2021, the Outdoor Recreation cluster is a quickly growing and evolving regional driver. The backbone of the cluster is amenities that have existed for generations, and regional strategic efforts. However, an influx of over $100 million in recent investment and facility upgrades, as well as extended regional awareness of the outdoor recreation resources of the Berkshires, have propelled the cluster from “local benefit” to “economic catalyst” in the past five years. With a huge variety and scale of recreational spaces, new facilities to enjoy, dynamic programming, and a maturing outdoor recreation culture, this cluster is offering new job opportunities, skill development, and direct and indirect economic impact that will only continue to grow and evolve.

Action Steps

Create and promote a central portal for information and navigation of outdoor recreation access points that connects information to commercial opportunities (i.e. restaurants, retail, etc.)
Invest in facilities improvements including signage, parking, sanitary facilities, and enhanced accessibility measures.
Embrace emergent mountain biking culture in the region and support interconnection of trail systems that both create new destinations and create new seasonal revenue streams across diverse property types.
Advocate for Outdoor Recreation as a key economic driver worthy of public investment comparable to private investment.

Economic Impact

Berkshire-based Outdoor Recreation businesses directly employ over 6,000 workers. These include jobs at all experience levels, giving both locals and new relocators the opportunity to build a career through seasonal and full-year positions. In the past 5 years, the Outdoor Recreation cluster has experienced over $100 million in direct facilities investment, and contributes over $300 million in regional economic impact annually. With increases in visitorship to the region for outdoor recreation destinations, Outdoor Recreation is now playing a significant part in the local tax receipts provided by the visitor economy which brings in over $600 million annually to the region. Beyond direct economic impacts, Outdoor Recreation also plays a major role in the quality of life of residents in the region, providing a vital recruitment and retention asset for workforce development across the full spectrum of industries located within the Berkshires.