Exploring the Role of Outdoor Recreation to Contribute to Urban Climate Resilience

Abstract

Climate resilience is an important mix of climate mitigation and climate adaptation designed to minimize current and future disruption while promoting opportunity. Given the importance of the regional and local arena for consideration of impacts of climate change trends and needs for climate action, climate resilience in one community, Duluth, Minnesota, is considered. At the core of this project is the climate resilience question: what can we currently be doing in our communities to prepare for projected climate change while simultaneously improving life for current residents and visitors? Given the growing importance of outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism in Duluth, the role this sector may be able to play in climate resilience is considered. Using action research methodology, the research process of adjusting, presenting, and conducting follow-up from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Adaptation for Coastal Communities workshop is presented. The study takes a unique look at one workshop outcome, a Duluth Parks and Recreation planning tool. Specifically, a resilience checklist is presented as a useful sample outcome of the overall process. Beyond the study community, the role of outdoor recreation to serve climate resilience is explored and affirmed.

Covid-19 and outdoor recreation management: Increased participation, connection to nature, and a look to climate adaptation

“…We have been reminded that people often want or need to recreate close to home—out the door access. This need fits very well with other efforts to design and redesign green spaces to meet multiple needs ( Beery, 2019 ; Beery et al, 2017 ). Multifunctional landscapes that can support climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and public health and well-being can serve needs arising from our experience of Covid-19; parks, trails, and public greenspace facilitate flexibility and allow people to spread out, socialize, seek solitude, and meet other critical needs.…”

“…Similarly, a positive-oriented approach to climate adaptation looks to the various specific challenges imposed upon a region or community by current and projected climate change ( Aguiar et al, 2018 ) and asks the question: what can we do to improve life today that may be able to make us more resilient in the future ? ( Beery, 2019 ) . Recreation managers can ask this same question regarding Covid-19.…”

“…Other examples of using multifunctional green infrastructure to link outdoor recreation opportunities and climate resilience can be found in climate adaptation literature ( Cortinovis et al, 2019 ; Demuzere et al, 2014 ). Beery (2019) highlighted the need for outdoor recreation to be a key part of multifunctional urban landscapes through close to home and accessible outdoor recreation land management efforts as a part of climate adaptation strategy. O'Toole et al (2019) provided specific and tangible actions to detail how outdoor recreation may play an essential role in climate adaptation relative to forest resources in North America.…”

Exploring Access to Nature Play in Urban Parks: Resilience, Sustainability, and Early Childhood

“…The origins of sustainable development emphasize the core goals of protecting and maintaining natural and cultural resources for the future while mitigating undesirable change [8]. The aspect of mitigating unwelcome change is where the concept of sustainability intersects with resilience [9]. Resilience is based on the consideration of disruption [10] and is often defined by scale [11].…”

Convivial Greenstreets: A Concept for Climate-Responsive Urban Design

“…For climate adaptation, the private initiative of local inhabitants is as relevant as public (i.e., top-down) interventions in the public streetscape. Beery [54] (p. 14) argued that "community-based climate change adaptation is unique" and that uniqueness calls for mobilizing community stakeholders to explore climate adaptation from their unique perspective. In the case of CG, residents, shopkeepers, and employees can play a relevant role in greening the street adjacent to their houses, shops, or offices.…”