Research Report: A system-wide assessment of night resources and night recreation in the U.S. national parks: A case for expanded definitions
Smith B and Hallo JC. 2013. Research Report: A system-wide assessment of night resources and night recreation in the U.S. national parks: A case for expanded definitions. Park Science. 29(2):54-59
Degradation of the night environment by light pollution poses a threat to the viability of nighttime outdoor recreation activities, experiences, and related resources in parks and protected areas (PPAs). The terms “night resources” and “night recreation” are often narrowly defined by PPAs, considering only the night sky or stargazing. These definitions may omit a wide range of other night dependent resources or recreation activities, possibly resulting in a decreased ability of PPAs to protect and promote them. This article examines the range of night recreation activities offered by U.S. national and state parks through Web site analysis and uses this to propose more complete definitions of “night resources” and “night recreation.” The article then assesses the prevalence and characteristics of night recreation activities in U.S. National Park System units (n = 315) through a mail survey. Results reveal that a diversity of night recreation activities are represented across National Park System units and that visitors participate in night recreation activities to a substantial degree. These findings support the call for more complete recognition of night resources to best protect them while providing for visitor enjoyment. Further implications and future research directions are discussed.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Smith, Brandi; Hallo, Jeffrey
- Units
- CAVE , CUIS , GOGA , HALE
- Keywords
- Light Pollution, night recreation, night resources, night sky, Outdoor Recreation