Turning 100 the same year as New York's first Zoning Code? The National Park Service, of course. The momentous occasion is likely to find the parks more popular than ever.
The National Park Service has plenty to celebrate ahead of its centennial in August. According to Andrew Flowers: "Visitation to national parks is up 12 percent since 1996 and grew 18.6 percent in just the past two years (to 75.3 million from 63.5 million)."
Flowers speculates on a number of theories for the system's increasing popularity, including gas prices, weather, and marketing (also known as "a platform to display Twitter and Instagram posts of people enjoying the parks ahead of the centennial."
The article includes several data visualizations, including one ranking the popularity of all the country's national parks and another tracking the parks of several notable parks over time.
Recent articles picked up by Planetizen include a critical discussion of national parks as "America's Best idea," images from the system's 20 most popular parks, and an announcement of free admission on 99th anniversary of the National Park System (the National Park Service will allow free admission to all national parks from August 25 through August 28 to honor its centennial this year).
FULL STORY: The National Parks Have Never Been More Popular
Yosemite crowds wait hours to enter park after NPS ends reservation system
Bumper-to-bumper traffic and a lack of parking foreshadowed a potentially chaotic summer.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Overcrowding at Yosemite National Park
Long lines of cars have been trying to enter the park, with many stuck in traffic for hours and vehicles parked illegally in traffic lanes, on grass, and between rocks.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association