State park
Encyclopedia
State parks are park
s or other protected area
s managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational potential. There are state parks under the administration of the government of each U.S. state
, and of some states of Mexico. The term is also used in Australia
, though the distinction between state and national parks there is different. The equivalent term in Canada
is provincial park
. Similar systems of local government maintained parks exist in other countries, but the terminology varies.
State parks are thus similar to national park
s, but under state rather than federal administration. Similarly, local government
entities below state level may maintain parks, e.g. regional park
s or county park
s. In general, state parks are smaller than national parks, with a few exceptions such as the Adirondack Park in New York
and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
in California
.
In Australia, both state and national parks are under the administration of state governments, because the first national parks predate the federation of Australia
. State parks have a lesser degree of significance and protection (for instance, they are frequently logged).
(NASPD). California alone has 278. There are some 725 million annual visits to the country's state parks, compared to 276 million to U.S. national parks. The NASPD further counts 41725 miles (67,149.7 km) of trail, 207,063 campsites, and 7,161 cabins and lodges across U.S. state parks.
Many states include designations beyond "state park" in their state parks systems. Other designations might be state recreation area
s, state beaches, and state nature reserve
s. Some state park systems include long-distance trails and historic site
s.
in New York, established in 1885. However several public parks maintained at the state level pre-date it.
Indian Springs State Park
has been operated continuously by the state of Georgia
as a public park since 1825, although it did not gain the title "State Park" until 1931. In 1864 Yosemite Valley
and Mariposa Grove
were ceded by the federal government to California until Yosemite National Park
was proclaimed in 1890. In 1878 Wisconsin
set aside a vast swath of its northern forests as "The State Park" but, needing money, sold most of it to lumber companies within 20 years. The first state park with the designation of "state park" was Mackinac Island State Park
in 1895, which was first a national park before being transferred to the state of Michigan
.
Many state park systems date to the 1930s, when around 800 state parks across the country were developed with assistance from federal job creation program
s like the Civilian Conservation Corps
and Works Progress Administration
.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
s or other protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
s managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational potential. There are state parks under the administration of the government of each U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
, and of some states of Mexico. The term is also used in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, though the distinction between state and national parks there is different. The equivalent term in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
is provincial park
Provincial park
A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...
. Similar systems of local government maintained parks exist in other countries, but the terminology varies.
State parks are thus similar to national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
s, but under state rather than federal administration. Similarly, local government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
entities below state level may maintain parks, e.g. regional park
Regional park
Regional park is a term used for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, recreational use or other reason, and under the administration of a form of local government.-Definition:...
s or county park
County park
A county park is a park managed by a county. In the United States, county parks are lower in hierarchy than state parks. In the United Kingdom, similar parks for recreation are named country parks....
s. In general, state parks are smaller than national parks, with a few exceptions such as the Adirondack Park in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a state park located within the Colorado Desert of Southern California. The park takes its name from 18th century, Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and borrego, the Spanish word for bighorn sheep...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
In Australia, both state and national parks are under the administration of state governments, because the first national parks predate the federation of Australia
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
. State parks have a lesser degree of significance and protection (for instance, they are frequently logged).
State parks in the U.S.
There are 6,624 state park units in the United States, according to the National Association of State Park DirectorsNational Association of State Park Directors
National Association of State Park Directors is an organization dedicated to the preservation of state parks in the United States....
(NASPD). California alone has 278. There are some 725 million annual visits to the country's state parks, compared to 276 million to U.S. national parks. The NASPD further counts 41725 miles (67,149.7 km) of trail, 207,063 campsites, and 7,161 cabins and lodges across U.S. state parks.
Many states include designations beyond "state park" in their state parks systems. Other designations might be state recreation area
Recreation area
A recreation area is a type of protected area designated in some jurisdictions. In the United States, National Recreation Areas are administered by several different agencies. They typically do not meet the strict guidelines to become national parks. In U.S...
s, state beaches, and state nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
s. Some state park systems include long-distance trails and historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
s.
History
The title of oldest state park in the U.S. is generally accorded to Niagara Falls State ParkNiagara Falls State Park
Niagara Falls State Park is located in the City of Niagara Falls, New York in Niagara County. The park has the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and part of the Canadian Falls....
in New York, established in 1885. However several public parks maintained at the state level pre-date it.
Indian Springs State Park
Indian Springs State Park
Indian Springs State Park is a 528 acre Georgia state park located near Jackson and Flovilla. The park is named for its several springs, which the Creek Indians used for centuries to heal the sick. Indian Springs is thought to be the oldest state park in the nation...
has been operated continuously by the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
as a public park since 1825, although it did not gain the title "State Park" until 1931. In 1864 Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada mountains of California, carved out by the Merced River. The valley is about long and up to a mile deep, surrounded by high granite summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan, and densely forested with pines...
and Mariposa Grove
Mariposa Grove
Mariposa Grove is a sequoia grove located near Wawona, California, United States, in the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park. It is the largest grove of Giant Sequoias in the park, with several hundred mature examples of the tree...
were ceded by the federal government to California until Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
was proclaimed in 1890. In 1878 Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
set aside a vast swath of its northern forests as "The State Park" but, needing money, sold most of it to lumber companies within 20 years. The first state park with the designation of "state park" was Mackinac Island State Park
Mackinac Island State Park
Mackinac Island State Park is a state park located on Mackinac Island in the U.S. state of Michigan. The island park encompasses 2.81 mi² , which is approximately 74% of the island's total area of 3.78 mi² . The park is also within the boundaries of the city of Mackinac Island and has permanent...
in 1895, which was first a national park before being transferred to the state of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Many state park systems date to the 1930s, when around 800 state parks across the country were developed with assistance from federal job creation program
Job creation program
Job Creation Programs are programs or projects undertaken by a government of a nation to assist unemployed members of the population in securing employment. A cornerstone of Keynesian economics, they are especially common during time of high unemployment...
s like the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
and Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
.
See also
- List of U.S. state parks
- National Association of State Park DirectorsNational Association of State Park DirectorsNational Association of State Park Directors is an organization dedicated to the preservation of state parks in the United States....
- Provincial parkProvincial parkA provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...
(Canada)