New data shows more people than ever visited national forests and grasslands last year, according to a Forest Service report
Not only were local parks, beaches, and trails popular destinations during the pandemic, national forests were highly visited as well. According to a newly released Forest Service report, national forests and grasslands received 168 million visits in 2020, an increase of 18 million when compared to 2019. The report, compiled by the Forest Service’s National Visitor Use Monitoring program, shows the greatest increase in visits occurred between May and October of last year. Dispersed recreation sites and wilderness areas saw the most significant increases, with an estimated 25% growth in visitation overall. Visits to those areas surged even higher in the summer months when compared to 2019. The data also shows that visitors enjoyed their experience, with 95% of visitors reporting being satisfied or very satisfied with their visit.
Completed in five-year cycles, the National Visitor Use Monitoring reports information the Forest Service uses to manage recreation to meet visitor demands while continuing the care for the long-term health and productivity of U.S. national forests and grasslands.
FULL STORY: New Data Shows Visits Soared Across National Forests in 2020
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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