Rails to Trails Conservancy’s analysis of the latest round of U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE Grants says there is widespread demand for connected walking and biking infrastructure in rural, urban and suburban communities across the country.

Just over half (54%) of children ages 6 to 17 in the U.S. played on a sports team or took lessons in 2022, down from 58% in 2017, according to federal data. That decline has driven the Aspen Institute to issue a call to action for its network of more than 20,000 leaders engaged with Project Play to get at least 63% of youth playing sports by the end of the decade.

The year 2023 saw a record 175.8 million participants in outdoor recreation, representing 57.3% of the U.S. population, according to the 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report from the Outdoor Foundation (OF) and Outdoor Industry Association (OIA).

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released its annual drowning and submersion report. 

The U.S. youth camp industry contributes $70 billion to the national economy, accounting for the total value of the camp industry's production and its ripple effects, which include business-to-business purchases and labor income, according to a study from the University of Michigan and the American Camp Association. 

Trust for Public Land announced that Washington, D.C., was rated the nation’s best big-city park system by the 2024 ParkScore index. The ParkScore index evaluates park systems in the 100 largest U.S. cities. Minneapolis took second place, and St. Paul, Minn., ranked third, while Irvine, Calif., matched its highest-ever ranking to finish in fourth place.

The 55,294 health club and studio locations in the U.S. have a $22.4 billion economic impact on the country’s economy, according to new data analysis prepared by the Health & Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA).

State, local and tribal governments can apply for up to $3 million in grant funding available through the Pool Safely Grant Program, through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). 

A new report from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) reveals the importance of social connection through older adult programming in parks and recreation.

It’s May, which means it’s time for National Water Safety Month, an annual awareness campaign coordinated by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, the American Red Cross, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA), the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the World Waterpark Association (WWA).