PPB March 2021

by Audrey Sellers Pa r ks & Rec r ea t i on Promoting The Perks Of Parks Parks are vital to community health. Amid the pandemic, park departments can shed light on recreational programming and promote safe ways for communities to connect in open spaces. T he pandemic may have reduced people’s recreation options, but it inspired a whole new love for the great outdoors. About one in three people say they are getting outside more than ever before, with six in 10 saying they’re finally taking time to explore their local communities, according to OnePoll. Among their top excursion destinations? Local parks, trails and lakes. Parks, which include everything from national parks to dog parks and public beaches to marinas, give community members a way to exercise, enjoy fresh air and take in natural splendors all while safely distancing from others. In addition to neighborhood parks, the United States is home to 3,729 state parks and 423 national parks spanning more than 84 million acres, according to the National Park Foundation. While COVID-19 caused steep declines in visitors to places like theaters and restaurants, parks saw an 80-percent surge in visitors from January to September 2020, according to GPS data fromGoogle. GROW 50 | MARCH 2021 | Brilliantist Studio./. Master 1305./. Roman Samborskyi / Shutterstock.com