Building disaster preparedness in the outdoor recreation economy
Courtesy of Headwaters Economics
People seek out outdoor recreation to connect with nature—to hike forested trails, paddle remote rivers, and camp under the stars. But this pursuit of natural beauty places people and the economies they support in the path of natural hazards like floods and wildfires.
The risks are real and growing. FEMA estimates that 25% of businesses never reopen after a disaster, and another 40% close within a year. Few recreation-dependent communities can absorb this kind of prolonged loss, especially when they rely on visitor tax revenue to fund essential public services.
Emergency managers have established protocols for community disaster preparedness, but as flood and wildfire threats intensify, the safety of tourists, hikers, and hunters will become a rising priority. To effectively address this growing challenge, outdoor recreation professionals should engage with their local emergency managers to coordinate an contribute to solutions.
Read more:
https://headwaterseconomics.org/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation-and-disaster-preparedness/
Detroit parks offer broad economic, business benefits
Courtesy of Smart Brief
Detroit parks, such as those along the Joe Louis Greenway and at Spirit Plaza, are driving significant economic benefits. Parks attract residents and visitors, boosting local businesses like Wetzel's Pretzels and Sandy's Land. Studies show parks increase property values by 8-10% and generate substantial visitor spending. The Huron-Clinton Metroparks study highlights $92 million in annual visitor spending and $30.3 million in health care savings due to increased physical activity. Parks also provide environmental benefits, such as stormwater management and air pollutant removal, further enhancing the local economy.
Read more:
https://modeldmedia.com/metro-detroit-parks-economic-benefits-boost-businesses-tourism-property-values-and-more/
This high school sends students hiking instead of a regular detention
Courtesy of SORP
By Baisakhi Mishra
MAINE - Morse High School in Bath, Maine, is rewriting the age-old, outdated rulebook on student discipline. Well, unlike regular detentions, Leslie Trundy, the school counselor, has a surprising way to punish them. According to Maine Public Radio's June 18th report, children detained for misbehavior or any violation are asked to go on a hike — a wise alternative to the tried, tested, and failed 'detention' method.
Instead of harsh punishments like corporal penalties, such hiking experience can actually benefit the children on so many different levels. According to the National Library of Medicine, studies have discovered that physical punishments, in fact, are linked to a higher risk of negative developmental outcomes in kids.
Read more:
https://scoop.upworthy.com/school-sends-detained-students-on-hikes-and-surprisingly-it-works
Protecting our Past: Wildfire Strategies for Historic Buildings
Courtesy of Headwaters Economics
Nearly a quarter of public and private properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places fall within counties with high or very high wildfire risk. In all these counties, historic buildings—whether on the national registry or not—attract visitors, drive economic activity, and serve as cornerstones of local culture.
Many of these buildings were constructed before modern fire codes using highly flammable materials and are now vulnerable in wildfire-prone environments. Preservation guidelines often limit changes to original materials, which can conflict with wildfire resilience measures. While historic integrity is important, safety should not be sacrificed — and it calls for adapting preservation policies to incorporate fire-resistant upgrades without compromising historical character.
Read more:
https://headwaterseconomics.org/natural-hazards/wildfire/wildfire-strategies-historic-buildings/
The 5 Safest Cities for Cyclists in America — and What They Have in Common
Courtesy of Planetizen
By Diana Ionescu
The findings show a clear pattern: cities that have made sustained, data-driven investments in infrastructure and traffic-calming policies are seeing real results. In other words, safety isn’t luck — it’s policy. Cities that have made sustained, data-driven investments in infrastructure and traffic-calming policies are seeing real results. In other words, safety isn’t luck — it’s policy.
Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2025/10/136118-5-safest-cities-cyclists-america-and-what-they-have-common
From Accessible to Inclusive: A New Era of Play
Courtesy of City Parks Alliance
At the Park Circle Playground in North Charleston, South Carolina, kids can explore a sensory tunnel full of colors, lights, and textures, wide enough for a wheelchair and stimulating yet calming. This sensory tunnel is part of the world’s largest inclusive playground, a place where people of all abilities and ages can be engaged, challenged, and entertained in ways that meet their needs.
The Americans with Disabilities Act’s 2010 Standards for Accessible Design created a baseline mandate for playground accessibility. But inclusivity is a concept that goes much further. And creating inclusive parks is a growing movement that Landscape Structures fosters with playground products like the sensory tunnel, the We-Go-Round®, a next-generation inclusive merry-go-round, and a plethora of climbing, sliding, spinning, swinging, and learning components.
Read more:
https://cityparksalliance.org/blog/from-accessible-to-inclusive-a-new-era-of-play/
Thousands of acres of federal land now open for coal leases are adjacent to Utah national parks
Courtesy of Smart Brief
The US government has opened 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal leasing, including areas near Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks. The move, part of a broader effort to boost fossil fuel production, has drawn criticism from environmentalists, who argue that it threatens the natural beauty and ecological health of the region. The Interior Department says the initiative will enhance energy security and create jobs.
Read more:
https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/10/08/federal-land-near-utah-national-parks-open-for-coal-leases/
Call for 2026 NRPA Conference Proposals
Courtesy of American Trails
The National Recreation and Parks Association's (NRPA) Annual Conference gathers thousands of professionals from various fields like parks and recreation, conservation, health, landscape architecture, and city planning. NRPA is seeking speakers who can connect with our attendees' passion for parks and recreation and inspire meaningful change in communities across the country. Submissions close November 30.
Read more:
https://learning.nrpa.org/call-for-conference-proposals?blm_aid=24243
Guidelines for Providing Trail Information to People with Disabilities
Courtesy of American Trails
This document provides guidelines and additional information that public agencies and other non-profit entities should follow to share information about the use of their trail systems and recreational facilities, and information that should be considered during the design of new trails and features.
These guidelines do not propose to define the terms “ADA accessible” or “inaccessible” as they apply to trails, but to share information about trails and amenities so that potential trail users can make their own informed decisions.
Read more:
https://www.americantrails.org/resources/guidelines-for-communicating-trail-information-to-people-with-disabilities?blm_aid=24243
2025 NOHVCC Annual Conference Presentations Available
Courtesy of the National Off-Highway Conservation Council
The NOHVCC Annual Conference kicked off on October 10th in beautiful Bend, Oregon, bringing together professionals and enthusiasts for two full days of engaging presentations, valuable information, and meaningful networking. Attendees enjoyed a diverse lineup of sessions, including industry updates, trail construction strategies, and dynamic outdoor presentations.
Read more:
https://www.nohvcc.org/202AnnualConferencePresentations/
