Breakout Session: Leveraging Outdoor Recreation Resources for Destination Placemaking (SPLIT ROCK ROOM)
How do outdoor recreation events turn communities into destinations? This panel explores wins from La Crescent’s Gravel Biking National Championships and Minnesota’s Iron Range, where mountain biking fueled economic impact and local identity.
11:35 AM - 12:20 PMThu
Split Rock Room
Industry Insights & Trends
Speakers
BREAKOUT PANELIST: Pete Kero
Vice President
Barr Engineering Co.
BREAKOUT PANELIST: James Longhurst
Local Organizing Committee Member, 2025 USAC Gravel Nationals
Driftless Cycling
BREAKOUT PANELIST: A.J. Frels
Executive Director
https://explorelacrosse.com/
MODERATOR: Randolph Briley
Deputy Director, Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership
How do outdoor recreation events and opportunities turn communities into destinations—and great places to live? This panel digs into real-world wins from organizers and supporters of the Gravel Biking National Championships hosted in La Crescent, and Minnesota’s Iron Range, where mountain biking has fueled economic impact, boosted quality of life, and strengthened local identity. Hear candid lessons, practical strategies, and takeaways you can apply in your own community—whether you’re event-curious or ready to go big.