Meeting the increased demand for outdoor play
By Andrew Pack
Whether you’re going to a local nature trail for daily hikes, camping on weekends, or simply observing wildlife at the local preserve, outdoor activities have increased significantly in the last couple of years due to the pandemic, and parks and recreation departments are seeing the value in making plans to sustain that healthy growth into the future.
According to a recent report from the Outdoor Foundation, 8.1 million more Americans went hiking in 2020 compared to 2019, while another 7.9 million more went camping, and 3.4 million more participated in freshwater fishing. At the heart of all this activity were city, county, and state parks and recreation districts—many of which experienced unprecedented participation in a wide variety of programs that helped people get outside and closer to nature.