North America | Public Parks

A live underwater broadcast from Channel Islands National Park is shown during a BioBlitz event in 2016.

Channel Islands to bring back underwater education

September 26, 2024

A popular National Park Service educational program that was shut down during the pandemic will be revived, an NPS official recently confirmed during a public lecture. The program, Channel Islands Live, has been off-the-air for […]

New York celebrates the 100th anniversary of its state park system

September 16, 2024

In 1885, the State of New York broke the mold by establishing the nation’s first state park. Niagara Falls State Park was made possible by passionate philanthropists who understood that the treasure was worth protecting […]

A view from Ecola State Park on Oregon's Pacific Coast.

Oregon’s parks system plagued by fires, funding crunch, inflation

September 13, 2024

One of the nation’s most beautiful state park systems is facing strains as inflation crimps repair budgets and summer fires force closures and evacuations. Oregon is renowned for its public lands. Though it’s home to […]

Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado.

Park Service touts the economic boon national parks deliver

September 13, 2024

Tourists traveling to the Grand Canyon lifted the regional economy by some $768 million last year. The wonder of the world lured 4.7 million visitors and generated some 10,000 jobs, for a total economic boost […]

Alberta's largest national park is closed due to a huge wildfire.

Jasper National Park closed by out-of-control fire

August 6, 2024

One of Canada’s most popular national parks is now closed to the public until further notice. Authorities are still struggling to contain a wildfire there that’s already claimed the life of one firefi...

The US Fish and Wildlife Service wants to expand Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge by ten times its current size.

Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge expansion plan moves forward

August 6, 2024

The US government is proceeding with its plan to undertake a massive expansion of a wildlife refuge in western Texas that’s critical to the survival of migrating waterfowl. The Muleshoe National...

Visitors to US national parks are falling to a brutal heat wave.

US National park visitors dropping from extreme heat

July 23, 2024

A record heat wave across the United States is killing visitors to national parks and sending others to the hospital. The record heat has the National Park Service warning visitors to be prepared or s...

Climate change threatens to extirpate polar bears from the shores of Hudson Bay.

Hudson Bay polar bears facing annihilation, scientists warn

July 2, 2024

Climate change is killing off one of North America’s most iconic Arctic animal populations, scientists are warning in a new report. Manitoba’s polar bears are among the Canadian province’s most popula...

George Wyth State Park in Iowa will close due to flooding.

Flooding shutters state parks in Iowa

June 24, 2024

Heavy rains and flooding in northern Iowa, USA are forcing the closure of state parks in the region. Meanwhile, state officials are warning residents throughout that part of the state that their water...

Investigators are probing a double homicide at a state park in Colorado.

String of deaths unnerve Lake Pueblo State Park in Colorado

June 24, 2024

Three deaths in under two weeks at a Colorado state park have visitors on edge and authorities scrambling to solve a double homicide. Lake Pueblo State Park is located in south-central Colorado, USA, ...

A new bridge will keep vehicles dry and South Llano River State Park accessible in heavy rain.

Refurbished Texas state park opens to the public

June 14, 2024

State park enthusiasts in Texas will get to enjoy improved infrastructure at a park in the Hill Country starting today. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morn...

Dos Rios, California's newest state park, doubles as a flood plain.

New state park in California opens to visitors

June 14, 2024

The first new state park established in California in a decade began accepting guests this week, though work at the park continues. California State Parks said more than 200 people turned up to celebr...