Class of 1964 Policy Research Shop Testimony, April 9, 2018

CLASS OF 1964 POLICY RESEARCH SHOP STUDENTS TESTIFY BEFORE THE SOUTHERN WINDSOR COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.

On Monday, April 9, 2018, Class of 1964 Policy Research Shop students Brandon Nye '20, Sunpreet Singh '20, and Connor Turner '20 presented their research findings to the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission. The students spent the fall and winter terms performing a valuation study and drafting their report, "Valuation of Recreation Infrastructure in Southern Windsor County: An Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure in Weathersfield, West Windsor, and Windsor," (PRS Policy Brief 1718-04) at the request of Mr. Jason Rasmussen, Director of Planning at the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission.

In their presentation, the students explained the methodologies they used to value major recreation sites in Vermont in terms of tourism activity and spending, community enhancement, personal value of recreation, and environmental benefits. Their study utilized data provided by Mr. Rasmussen and that the students themselves gathered to quantify the benefits several recreation sites bring to the region. During the presentation, the students reviewed the estimates from each piece of the valuation and answered questions from commission members. The commission was particularly interested in the students' use of the travel cost and opportunity cost method to quantify personal values as well as how the students arrived at a number for the ecological benefits of protected forest land. The commission members were appreciative of the students' work and commented that the report would be valuable as they move forward with regional planning initiatives.