State Parks See Overcrowding as Temperatures Climb
State parks across the country have limited capacity to encourage social distancing, leading to closures over the weekend as temperatures warmed and people flocked outdoors.
Parks and Recreation Returned, and State and Local Officials Were Here for It
The reunion episode of the show about local government in the fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana offered a lighthearted take on the pandemic.
Across the Country, Local Officials Hope New Rules Will Help Parks Reopen Safely
Dozens of municipalities are reopening park facilities, but requiring that visitors wear masks and adhere to social distancing to continue to fight the spread of Covid-19.
Keep the Parks Open
Public green spaces are good for the immune system and the mind—and they can be rationed to allow for social distancing.
Trail Use Way Up as Coronavirus Stifles Other Activities
“People are craving outlets for their physical and mental well being,” said an expert. But this has created concerns that people are too crammed together in these open spaces.
Using Data to Ensure Equitable Funding for Parks
Cities are beginning to use data to allocate funding to parks in low-income and blighted neighborhoods that haven't seen investment for years, a new report found.
State Park Debuts Virtual Reality Hike
Table Rock State Park in South Carolina now provides a 5-minute virtual hike, offered for free at the park's visitor center to anyone who can't—or doesn't want to—walk the real thing.
Privatizing State Parks Can Save Them—or Wreck Them
States vary when it comes to allowing concessionaires on public land.
Dollar Value of Outdoor Recreation For Each State Detailed in New Data
More states in recent years have been devoting special attention to the outdoor recreation economy. The figures help show its size.
How and Why Parks Spur Gentrification in Cities
While green spaces are often linked to gentrification, new research shows certain types and characteristics of urban parks play a much greater role than others.
Transit to the Trailhead: Bus Service in a Recreation Corridor Takes Off
Oregon’s Department of Transportation has seen strong demand among riders for buses that run between Portland and the Columbia River Gorge.
Must Fancy City Parks Displace Their Neighbors?
A new report from UCLA and the University of Utah surveys strategies for “greening without gentrification.”
Envisioning What’s Next for a Dead Stretch of Downtown Freeway
Akron’s planning director says there’s a chance that what’s now a “concrete trench” could one day become a park.
It's Getting Too Damn Hot to Have Fun in the Summer
An environmental economist explains how climate change and extreme weather could mean summer is no longer the peak season for festivals and outdoor recreation.
Can Parks Help Cities Fight Crime?
The short answer: It depends on the park.
Ranking America's Small and Large Cities
Washington D.C. jumped six spots in this year's America's Best Cities rankings, which judge cities on 23 metrics sorted into six categories.
Ranking the Country's Parks
Washington, D.C. dethroned three-time defending champ Minneapolis in the latest version of the ParkScore index, released this week by the Trust for Public Land.
The Sounds of State Parks—on Spotify
Michigan's tourism arm will drop an album this month of ambient music layered with sound recordings from 10 state parks.
America’s Management of Urban Forests Has Room for Improvement
A new survey finds that urban forests could benefit from better data on climate change and pests and a focus on social equity.
The Inequality of Parks and Green Space
New research finds that income, education, and race are correlated with access to green space across and within U.S. metro areas. But some cities are more equitable than others.
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