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 & Background: Drew has 20+ years of experience in recreation, planning, and design. He has worked as a professional planner, advocate, and journalist often focusing on the intersection of communities, recreation, and open space.
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.
Carolyn Lawrence
Recreation Planner
Education:
Bachelor of Science — Pre-Medicine Focus
Experience & Background: Carolyn is a recreation planner and a Tier 2 Master Naturalist. She joined CRO in 2025 after serving for six years as the Executive Director of the Stowe Trails Partnership. As the ED, she directed all organization strategies, operations, communications, and finances while leading several simultaneous projects focused on expanding outdoor recreation and land conservation opportunities in the community. Carolyn’s collaborative approach emphasizes communication, trust, and empathy with a dedication to learning and producing excellent work. Her diverse experiences working with municipalities, local and regional businesses, statewide nonprofits, and the legislature offer a unique perspective to project teams. Carolyn’s passion for outdoor recreation and the land is evident in every project she works on: she is committed to working with communities to help get more people outside and establish meaningful connections with the natural world.
Carolyn is the Secretary of the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council and the Membership Committee Co-Chair. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Vermont Huts & Trails Association and is a member of both the Trails Committee, which is focused on the state-wide Velomont Trail project, and the Marketing Committee. Carolyn is also a member of the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals.
Mistaya Smith
Recreation Planner
Education:
Master of City Planning —
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Arts, Geography & Bachelor of Arts, Political Science — Middlebury College
Experience & Background: As a Recreation Planner for CRO Planning & Design, Mistaya brings academic and professional experience in park, trail, and open space planning; community engagement; policy evaluation; and GIS analysis. She graduated from MIT with her Master in City Planning where her research focused on physical and cultural gentrification management in rural outdoor recreation economies. During her time at MIT, Mistaya served as Founder and President of Rural MIT, a student organization dedicated to rural planning advocacy. Mistaya views outdoor recreation as not only a tool for strengthening community and economic development, but also as a means of fostering a deeper sense of place and belonging among residents and visitors. Mistaya is a member of the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals.
Abigail Johnson
Recreation Planner
Education:
Bachelor of Arts, Quantitative Social Science — Dartmouth College
Experience & Background: Abigail brings subject matter expertise in accessibility and adaptive recreation as well as a background in quantitative and qualitative research and human-centered design methods to her work as a recreation planner at CRO Planning & Design. Prior to joining CRO, Abigail was the recipient of the H. Allen Brooks Traveling Fellowship to study access to nature at the European Tourism Research Institute at Mid Sweden University. In Sweden, she contributed to publications on accessible recreation and conducted field work on adaptive recreation programs. Abigail has also worked with the National Park Service, where she created foundational resources for the NPS on adaptive recreation. Abigail has presented on adaptive recreation and accessibility in the outdoors at conferences including the National Outdoor Recreation Conference and National Recreation & Parks Conference. Abigail is passionate about applying data science and design methods to make the outdoors more accessible for all. She is a member of the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals.
Highlighted Projects
CRO Planning & Design 