Our Experience & Approach
Public Land & Recreation Experts
CRO Planning & Design helps municipalities, counties, regions, state agencies, federal land managers, non-profits, and private sector clients navigate complex projects on public lands across North America. We are proven experts in delivering large-scale, multi-party, and statewide recreation planning and design processes. We excel in community visioning & collaborative stakeholder engagement processes for outdoor recreation projects.
Holistic Approach & Solutions
We believe in holistic systems thinking and thrive in projects that embrace the linkages between outdoor recreation and economic development, land conservation, & natural systems. We employ a comprehensive ‘landscape management approach’ in all our work to help ensure the best outcomes are achieved for both human recreators and all the other precious species, resources, and values present in our parks & public lands.
Community-led Processes & Outcomes
We recognize the often-deep connections between communities and their recreational assets, and don’t cut off our thinking at the park boundaries. We are equally adept at discussing tourism opportunities and the downtown economics of outdoor recreation as we are discussing detailed trail design and recreation management out in the field. We ensure all our plans align with the goals and values of the communities we work with.
Areas of Expertise
Extensive Experience Serving Rural Communities, State Governments, & Federal Agencies
Our team has worked on outdoor recreation projects with over 1/3 of the US state governments, each of the US federal land management agencies, and dozens of rural communities & regions throughout North America.
Key Personnel
Drew Pollak-Bruce, CPRP
Founder and Principal
Education:
Master of Regional Planning —
Cornell University
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science —University of Colorado at Boulder
Experience: 20+ years in recreation, planning, & design
Professional Associations & Certifications: Drew is the President of the Board for the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP), the organization that puts on the National Outdoor Recreation Conference each year. He also sits on the Executive Committee of the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association (VRPA) and the Vermont Community Development Association (VCDA). Drew is also a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) with the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) and is a member of the American Planning Association, the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA), the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP), and the International Ecotourism Society.
Brett Rannow
Associate Planner
Education:
Master of Natural Resource Science & Management — University of Minnesota
Bachelor of Science, Recreation, Parks, & Protected Area Management—University of Minnesota
Experience: 7+ years in recreation planning & management
Professional Associations & Certifications: Brett is a member of the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA) and was MRPA’s 2020 Young Professional & Student Network Chair. He is also a member of the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals, the National Recreation and Parks Association, the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association, and the Society for Wilderness Stewardship. He also sits on the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Planning (SCORP) Work Group of the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals.
Highlighted Projects
CRO Planning & Design 