HARRISBURG (TNS) — While nearly all outdoor recreation venues saw massive increases in users during the pandemic, a Penn State study found that more than 13% of Americans ended their participation in outdoor recreation during the same period.

Researchers in Penn State’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management determined that nearly half of adults from across the U.S. now participate in outdoor recreation on at least a monthly basis, and approximately 20% may be new to outdoor recreation during the pandemic.

The new outdoor recreationists were demographically similar to those that have traditionally participated in outdoor recreation: predominantly white, and with relatively high socioeconomic status.

But the more than 13% of Americans who ceased participation in outdoor recreation during the pandemic were significantly more diverse, tended to reside in more urban environments, and earned less annually than existing or new recreationists.

“This raises major concerns regarding demographic discrepancies with access and equity,” said B. Derrick Taff, associate professor of recreation, park and tourism management.

“Park managers and policy makers need to develop policies and programming that foster participation by everyone, especially in their local parks. Not everyone can afford to travel to Yellowstone, but everyone deserves access to nature, and the associated health benefits of outdoor recreation, somewhere close to home.”

He encouraged park managers and policy makers to continue highlighting the health benefits of outdoor recreation to encourage healthy participation in outdoor recreation. He also stressed the importance of making people feel safe and comfortable and aligning recreational opportunities with people’s desires for settings and activities.

Prior research has established that outdoor recreation helps to release stress and restore people’s senses of well-being. Other research has linked stress to a wide range of health issues, including heart disease, depression, obesity, irritability, headaches, anxiety and relationship troubles.

“A 20% increase in outdoor recreation in the U.S. is good news for anyone who cares about people’s health or the environment,” Taff said. “It is encouraging from the public health perspective that amidst one of the more challenging periods in recent history a new group of outdoor recreationists have emerged, and, because of their participation, they likely benefit from improved health.”

For years, policy makers and researchers have been studying how local parks benefit society and how to share those benefits more equitably. Andrew Mowen, professor of recreation, park, and tourism management, and his collaborators are examining how parks can help address social and racial inequities.

The researchers are working with several parks and communities in the Philadelphia area to create opportunities for people to come together. Funded by the William Penn Foundation, the researchers are studying and evaluating improvements to park renovations, management practices, and community engagement.

“People might think that flashy new parks or capital improvements are the way to stimulate increased use and the quality of people’s experiences in parks, but that’s not necessarily the case,” Mowen explained. “While most people appreciate these investments, simply having a nice park nearby does not mean that people feel it’s for them or they belong there.”

Local parks are typically free to access and are purportedly available to everyone, yet people of color continue to experience racism that discourages them from visiting parks. Perceptions of parks as unsafe or unwelcoming can limit use, and in turn, limit access to the benefits derived from parks.

Penn State researchers have found that those who are white, male, younger and more educated, and those with higher incomes are all more likely to use parks and enjoy their many benefits than people who do not fit those descriptions.

“We have seen that by improving parks’ facilities, programming and especially community engagement and representation, we can create parks where more people feel welcome and like the park is ‘their’ park,” Mowen said.