What Has Changed in Parks in the Last Decade

“If you look back over the last 100 years of significant events in America’s parks, state, national, local, that, you know, on that list of the top 10 or 15 things that’s changed the way we manage parks is, how we did the pandemic.”

We just celebrated a major milestone—300 episodes of the Park Leaders Show! This episode felt like a great opportunity for Phil Gains and I to reflect on what has changed in parks over the last decade and look towards the future. It’s been an incredible journey of connecting with park managers, leaders, and thought leaders, and we’re grateful for every listener who has been part of this adventure.

In this episode we talk about the evolution of our beloved parks. Some of biggest shifts came from the unexpected twists the pandemic brought. Here are three more takeaways from our conversation:

• Rising Visitation & Sustainability: Parks have seen a significant uptick in visitors, raising both excitement and sustainability concerns. How do we welcome more people while preserving our natural resources?
• Pandemic Impact & Innovation: The global pandemic has drastically changed park operations and management, leading to an increase in online interpretation and programming. We’ve had to adapt quickly, but the silver lining is the new ways we’re connecting with our communities.
• Growth in Park Leadership: Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed advancements in workforce sophistication, visitor demographics, and the myriad challenges faced by park leaders.

A special shoutout to Phil Gaines for being such a significant part of this journey. Thank you also to all our incredible guests and listeners. Starting this podcast was a way to merge my love for parks with business leadership concepts. It’s been an absolute pleasure to make it happen. I look forward to continuing to bring you these conversations, including more on-location interviews and expand international park conversations. Let the adventure continue!

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