Saturday, September 19, 2020

How will America’s state parks survive 2020?

NationalGeographic.com - Full Article

In an unprecedented year of pandemic and natural disasters, cash-strapped state parks now face funding cutbacks.

BY MILES HOWARD
PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

The closure of Yosemite National Park due to heavy smoke from the wildfires in California sparked national attention. But another story is smoldering in the state: 34 of its 300 state parks have had to shut down due to the fires, which have brought additional pressure on public spaces already straining under a surge of pandemic crowds.

California is experiencing its worst fire season ever, as firefighters continue to battle more than two dozen major fires that have killed 25 people and left scores more displaced. So far, this unprecedented year for wildfires has seen 3.3 million acres ravaged across the Golden State—a record-breaking 26 times more than the acreage lost to fire last year.

The flames have destroyed countless structures, including historic facilities in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California’s oldest state park and home to iconic thousand-year-old redwoods. In August, Big Basin temporarily closed its gates; it’s unclear when the park will reopen.

In California and across the country, the combination of natural disaster, pandemic, and economic retrenchment against the threat of recession spell trouble for the future of state parks...

Read more here:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/09/state-parks-face-budget-cuts-wildfires-coronavirus/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=SpecialEdition_20200918&rid=BB6673C4CE72E9E250D0E59D22726895

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Nearly $600K To Enhance Red Grade Trails Near Sheridan

Credit Sheridan Community Land Trust
WyomingPublicMedia.org - Full Article

By Catherine Wheeler
September 15 2020

The Sheridan Community Land Trust has received two grants that will go towards building more trails and parking areas in the Bighorn National Forest.

The two grants from the U.S. Forest Service and the Wyoming Business Council total nearly $600,000. The funds will go to building 15 miles of trail and three parking areas in the existing Red Grade trail system.

Sheridan Community Land Trust Executive Director Brad Bauer said the trails will be non-motorized and multi-use for hiking, biking and equestrian activities...

Read more here:
https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/nearly-600k-enhance-red-grade-trails-near-sheridan?utm_medium=40digest.7days3.20200916.home&utm_source=email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=campaign#stream/0

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Oregon: Horse trails planned for Jacksonville's Forest Park

MailTribune.com - Full Article

by Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune
Tuesday, September 1st 2020

An equestrian group with experience in building horse trails will work with Jacksonville Forest Park volunteers to establish an 8-mile equestrian loop in the park west of the town.

Jacksonville city officials closed the park to all horse riding earlier this year after three incidents where riders caused damage to trails designed for hikers and mountain bikers. Previously a trail had been available to riders in the upper reaches of the park.

Rogue Valley-based Sourdough Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of America began discussions with Jacksonville officials on expanding horse-riding options in the park over a year ago. Equestrian use is listed in the park’s mission statement, but little development of that has taken place.

“We’ve got people who are good at building trails,” said Cate Bendock, president of the local chapter...

Read more here:
https://mailtribune.com/news/top-stories/horse-trails-planned-for-jacksonvilles-forest-park