Date of Award:

8-2025

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Environment and Society

Committee Chair(s)

Courtney Flint

Committee

Courtney Flint

Committee

Jessica Ulrich-Schad

Committee

Jordan Smith

Abstract

Amenity-oriented communities are places with significant and desirable natural amenities that are highly visited and plentiful within the Intermountain West. These high rates of visitation create complex challenges such as congestion in recreation spaces and in towns and increase costs of living. These communities are typically rural and often do not have the resources, funding, or infrastructure to combat these challenges. Although tourists provide financial stability and other amenities to these towns, local wellbeing is highly impacted. Outdoor recreation and the nature connections derived from outdoor experiences are major contributors to wellbeing in amenity communities. This research investigates the changes that are experienced in amenity-oriented communities and what strategies are most applicable to local government officials. This research was conducted in Springdale, Utah, the gateway to Zion National Park, and Roslyn and Cle Elum, in Kittitas County, Washington, near the Cascade Mountains.

The first paper of this thesis discusses the nexus of tourism and climate change on outdoor recreation and wellbeing. This paper draws upon interviews in Upper Kittitas County and survey data in Springdale that provide insight into amenity community wellbeing. These data were analyzed and found that nature connections are often made through outdoor recreation experiences and therefore contribute to community wellbeing. This community wellbeing is affected by seasonal variability, increased weather hazards such as flooding and wildfire, decreased feelings of community connection, and an increase in amenity migrants (people that move to places to be closer to desired amenities). The second paper builds upon the first paper and provides strategies and resources to support community engagement in these communities. Town leaders had expressed the need for resources on how local officials can engage locals in planning processes. Therefore, the Community Outreach, Navigating Networks, and Engaging Communities Toolkit (CONNECT) was made. Interviews were conducted with 10 local officials, 5 in each community. These interviews provided feedback on different frameworks, worksheets, and other ‘tools’ that are aimed at engaging locals. Results showed that toolkits were helpful for town leaders. Further research can help to understand whether resources are truly helpful when they are implemented. Together these papers highlight the complex changes that amenity-oriented communities face and the importance of community connections and development that build community resilience.

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Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
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