Amenity-oriented and gateway communities are communities with desirable environmental features, outdoor recreation opportunities, or are in close proximity to national parks, forests, or public lands (Stoker et al., 2021; Ulrich-Schad, 2015). Amenity-oriented communities in the Intermountain West are experiencing changes that place a strain on the wellbeing of locals. Local officials in two amenity communities indicated that community engagement and furthering public participation in local planning processes were pressing needs. These communities include Springdale, Utah, a gateway town to Zion National Park, and a partnering city in the Utah Wellbeing Project and Upper Kittitas County, Washington, near the Cascade Mountains, and a partner in the Yakima River Basin Wellbeing Project. This research describes the review of existing toolkits and resources, development of the Community Outreach, Navigating Networks, Encouraging Collaboration Toolkit (CONNECT), and interview process to better understand what resources are most applicable to town leaders in amenity-oriented communities. Following these interviews feedback and questions surrounding how we can sustain engagement long-term was added. The toolkit and related processes highlight resources and strategies for amenity-oriented communities to integrate and engage local residents into town planning processes.
