Findings from the 2023 Annual Outdoor Participation Trends Report reveals the “who, how, and where” in participation in outdoor recreation.
The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and Outdoor Foundation (OF), longtime authorities on outdoor participation data, recently released findings from the 2023 Annual Outdoor Participation Trends Report. For more than 15 years, the Outdoor Participation Trends Report has served as the most comprehensive source of insights and narratives around who’s doing what, when, and how outdoors.
The 2023 report reveals increases in the overall outdoor participation and offers some key insights, including the following:
- The outdoor recreation participant base increased by 2.3 percent in 2022 to a record 168.1 million participants or 55 percent of the U.S. population ages six and older.
- While 2022 outdoor recreation included record numbers of participants and record-high participation rates, the number of outings per participant declined in 2022 for the first time since the pandemic began in 2020.
- The new outdoor recreation participant base became more diverse in 2022 including increases in participation among Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQIA+ people.
- Eighty percent of outdoor activity categories experienced participation growth in 2022, including large categories like camping and fishing and smaller categories like sport climbing and skateboarding.
The full report is available to OIA members only, but readers can request a copy of the Executive Summary with key data points and insights at this link.
FULL STORY: Outdoor Participation Grows for Eighth Consecutive Year
A Greener LA County: 623 Acres of New Parkland for Communities
Los Angeles County is investing $17 million to create 623 acres of new parks and open spaces, expanding access to nature, advancing equity, and enhancing community health and well-being.
Public and Private Collaboration Advances Park Development in Houston
Houston may be known to some as a concrete jungle, but its greenspaces continue to expand thanks to combined support from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors.
Has the Lack of Access to Parks Driven Up COVID-19 Infection Rates in Black and Latino Communities?
Experts indicate that it is too soon to conclude that the lack of access to parks has contributed to higher coronavirus infection rates in Black and Latino communities, but say there is likely a relationship between the two.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research