National Parks Report 320 Million Annual Visitors Amid Policy Changes

Why it matters locally: Michigan is home to five national parks, lakeshores, and historic sites which collectively welcomed over 2.5 million visitors in 2022. Policy changes and construction projects within the national park system could influence future visitation and resource management at these Michigan sites, including Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

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National parks within the United States recorded over 320 million visitors in the past year. Tiernan Sittenfeld, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, discussed the current conditions of these parklands. Sittenfeld noted policy changes directing revisions to park exhibits. She also identified construction projects initiated by former President Trump that have commenced within park boundaries.