Record numbers of Americans went outside last year, yet they still went less often than before. Seniors are adding outdoor participants by the hundreds of thousands, and kids are showing up in growing numbers, yet the overall frequency of those trips keeps falling. Pickleball is the one exception, with more people going outside to play it than for just about any other reason.
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm}2E:@?2= !=2J ~FED:56 s2J 72==D @? E96 7:CDE $2EFC52J @7 6G6CJ >@?E9[ H:E9 E96 ?6IE @3D6CG2?46 @? $2EFC52J[ ~4E] b] u@C 2 4@F?ECJ E92E 3F:=E 2? 6?E:C6 :56?E:EJ 2C@F?5 ?2E:@?2= A2C<D[ @A6? EC2:=D 2?5 E96 C@>2?46 @7 7C6D9 2:C[ E96 :562 E92E p>6C:42?D 2C6 A2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? @FE5@@C C64C62E:@? 2E C64@C5 =6G6=D H9:=6 8@:?8 =6DD 7C6BF6?E=J :D H@CE9 D:EE:?8 H:E9] %96 A2?56>:4 6IA2?565 E96 @FE5@@C A2CE:4:A2?E 32D6 5C2>2E:42==J[ 2?5 7@C >2?J A6@A=6 E96 923:E 5:5 ?@E DE:4<]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm|@C6 A2CE:4:A2?ED[ 76H6C EC:ADk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@:2]@FE5@@C:?5FDECJ]@C8^a_ae\A2CE:4:A2E:@?\EC6?5D\C6A@CE\DF>>2CJQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmp C64@C5 `gb]a >:==:@? p>6C:42?Dk^2m A2CE:4:A2E65 :? @FE5@@C C64C62E:@? :? a_ad[ C6AC6D6?E:?8 dhT @7 E96 A@AF=2E:@? 286D e 2?5 @=56C 2?5 E96 9:896DE E@E2= 6G6C C64@C565] %96 ?F>36C 3FC:65 5:C64E=J 36?62E9 E92E 9625=:?6 :D E96 >@C6 :?E6C6DE:?8 @?6] %96 2G6C286 A2CE:4:A2?E ?@H E2<6D 7:G6 76H6C @FE:?8D A6C J62C E92? :? a_`h] |@C6 p>6C:42?D E92? 6G6C 2C6 4@F?E65 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^?2E:@?2=\86E\@FE5@@CD\52J\?6H\C6D62C49^Qm@FE5@@C\C64C62E:@?k^2m A2CE:4:A2?ED] %96J 2C6 ;FDE 8@:?8 =6DD @7E6?]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm%96 HC@?8 86?6C2E:@? :D DE2J:?8 9@>6k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmz:5D 286D e E@ `a k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@:2]@FE5@@C:?5FDECJ]@C8^a_ae\A2CE:4:A2E:@?\EC6?5D\C6A@CE\DF>>2CJQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm8C6H dT E@ aa]e >:==:@?k^2m @FE5@@C A2CE:4:A2?ED :? a_ad[ H9:=6 25F=ED ed 2?5 @=56C 25565 g__[___ :? 2 D:?8=6 J62C] r@C6 @FE5@@C A2CE:4:A2?ED[ 567:?65 2D E96 >@DE 7C6BF6?E @FE5@@C A2CE:4:A2?ED :? E96 52E2[ 76== 3J b]e >:==:@? :? a_ad] !2CE:4:A2E:@? :D 3C@256C E92? 6G6C 2?5 D92==@H6C E92? :E 92D 366? :? J62CD] %96 ed\2?5\@=56C 8C@FA 92D 25565 >@C6 E92? `a >:==:@? A2CE:4:A2?ED D:?46 a_`e[ 2 A246 E92E DF886DED D@>6E9:?8 >@C6 E92? 2 42DF2= EFC? E@H2C5 7C6D9 2:C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmu@C >2?J @=56C 25F=ED[ E96 @FE5@@CD 3642>6 2 7:IEFC6 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4 J62CD 2?5 96=5] %96 86?6C2E:@? E92E 8C6H FA 36:?8 E@=5 E@ 8@ @FED:56 2?5 E96? DA6?E 564256D :?5@@CD :D ?@H[ :? C6E:C6>6?E[ E96 @?6 24EF2==J 5@:?8 :E]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm!:4<=632== 7:8FC65 @FE H92E 8J>D 5:5?’Ek^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D7:2]@C8^C6D62C49^F\D\A:4<=632==\A2CE:4:A2E:@?^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm!:4<=632==k^2m 925 ac]b >:==:@? p>6C:42? A=2J6CD :? a_ad[ FA cfhT D:?46 a_a_[ >2<:?8 :E E96 72DE6DE\8C@H:?8 DA@CE :? E96 4@F?ECJ 7@C 7:G6 DEC2:89E J62CD] xED 4@C6 A=2J6CD[ 567:?65 2D E9@D6 H9@ A=2J 6:89E @C >@C6 E:>6D A6C J62C[ 8C6H 7C@> `]c >:==:@? :? a_a_ E@ f]cg >:==:@? :? a_ad] (9:=6 @G6C2== @FE5@@C C64C62E:@? 92D 2 7C6BF6?4J AC@3=6>[ A:4<=632==’D >@DE 6?82865 A=2J6CD 8C6H >@C6 E92? 7:G67@=5 :? 7:G6 J62CD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 32D:4 CF=6D 2C6 62DJ 7@C 368:??6CD E@ =62C?[ E96 4@FCED 2C6 D9@CE 2?5 A=2J6CD D9@H FA H:E9 @E96C A6@A=6 2?5 <66A D4@C6] q6:?8 @FED:56 H:E9 ?@ C62D@? E@ C6EFC? 766=D =:<6 2 3=2?< 27E6C?@@? H:E9 ?@H96C6 E@ 8@[ 3FE 2 DECF4EFC65 82>6 @? 2 D9@CE 4@FCE 8:G6D A6@A=6 2 C62D@? E@ 36 @FE5@@CD]Â k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qma 9@FCD @FED:56 :D 6?@F89k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2EFC6]4@>^2CE:4=6D^Dc`dhg\_`h\cc_hf\bQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%H@ 9@FCD 2 H66<k^2m DA6?E :? ?2EFC2= D6EE:?8D :D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 D:8?:7:42?E=J 36EE6C D6=7\C6A@CE65 962=E9 2?5 H6==\36:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 DEF5J @7 ?62C=J a_[___ 25F=ED :? t?8=2?5] %96 C6D62C496CD 7@F?5 D:>:=2C 2DD@4:2E:@?D H96E96C E9@D6 EH@ 9@FCD 42>6 :? 2 D:?8=6 G:D:E @C H6C6 DAC625 24C@DD D9@CE6C EC:AD 5FC:?8 E96 H66<]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 2FE9@CD 56D4C:36 `a_ >:?FE6D 2D 2 A@DD:3=6 E9C6D9@=5 2?5 ?@E6 E92E >@C6 =@?8:EF5:?2= C6D62C49 :D ?66565] qFE E96 5:C64E:@? @7 E96 7:?5:?8 :D 4@?D:DE6?Ei C68F=2C E:>6 :? ?2EFC6 2E E92E =6G6= :D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 36EE6C @FE4@>6D E92? ?@?6 2E 2==] %96 32C :D 4@?D:56C23=J =@H6C E92? >@DE A6@A=6’D >6?E2= A:4EFC6 @7 H92E 8@:?8 @FED:56 C6BF:C6D]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm~FED:56 :D 2=C625J 4=@D6 6?@F89k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmv6EE:?8 @FED:56 5@6D ?@E C6BF:C6 862C[ 2 42=6?52C 6?ECJ @C 2 A2CE:4F=2C @442D:@?] p 324<J2C5 H@C<D[ 2?5 D@ 5@6D E96 ?62C6DE 8C66? DA246 @C E96 3=@4< 2C@F?5 E96 4@C?6C] %96 >@DE >6>@C23=6 @FE5@@C >@>6?ED 2C6 @7E6? F?A=2??65] $@>6@?6 DE6AD @FE @7 E96 9@E6= 2?5 <66AD H2=<:?8[ @C D:ED @? 2 A2C< 36?49 =@?86C E92? >2<6D AC24E:42= D6?D6] %C2G6=6CD 7:8FC6 E9:D @FE 72DE6C E92? >@DE 3642FD6 E96 C6D6E 92AA6?D 3J ?646DD:EJ]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp ?6H 4:EJ DEC:AD 2H2J E96 C@FE:?6D E92E >2<6 DE2J:?8 :?D:56 766= C62D@?23=6[ 2?5 DF556?=J 2 H2=< 27E6C 5:??6C 364@>6D E96 @3G:@FD E9:?8 E@ 5@] q24< 9@>6[ E96 D2>6 :>AF=D6 :D 2G2:=23=6 2?5 C2C6=J E2<6?] %96 ?62C6DE A2C< 92D ?@E >@G65[ 2?5 E96 =:89E @? 2 (65?6D52J 27E6C?@@? :D E96 D2>6]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm%96 7C6BF6?4J AC@3=6> ?@3@5J :D D@=G:?8k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 @FE5@@C :?5FDECJ 3F:=E :ED A2CE:4:A2?E 32D6 E@ 2? 2==\E:>6 9:89[ 2?5 E96 ?6IE 492==6?86 :D 86EE:?8 A6@A=6 E@ 8@ @FED:56] ~xp EC24<D E9:D 2D 2 7C6BF6?4J :DDF6[ @?6 H96C6 E96 32D6 :D H:56C E92? 6G6C[ 2?5 E96 2G6C286 G:D:E C2E6 :D =@H6C E92? 367@C6 a_a_]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>4AC6DD]>2J@4=:?:4]@C8^>6?E2=\962=E9^E96\>6?E2=\962=E9\36?67:ED\@7\?2EFC6\DA6?5:?8\E:>6\@FE5@@CD\E@\C67C6D9\J@FC\>:?5^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm#6D62C49k^2m 4@?D:DE6?E=J =:?<D C68F=2C E:>6 @FED:56 E@ >62DFC23=6 5:776C6?46D :? 9@H A6@A=6 766=] |@DE A6@A=6 2=C625J 36=:6G6 E96 42D6 7@C :E] %96 E2D< ?@H :D >2<:?8 :E 62D:6C E@ 8@ 324< E92? E@ D<:A :E[ 2?5 E96 7:CDE $2EFC52J @7 6G6CJ >@?E9 :D 2D 8@@5 2 A=246 E@ DE2CE 2D 2?J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|2?5J :D 2 =FIFCJ EC2G6=[ 7:?6 5:?:?8 2?5 3F4<6E\=:DE\25G6?EFC6 ;@FC?2=:DE H:E9 6IA6CE :?D:89E 7C@> cf 4@F?EC:6D] $96 F?4@G6CD F?7@C86EE23=6 6IA6C:6?46D 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5 2?5 3C:?8D E96> E@ =:76 E9C@F89 :>>6CD:G6 DE@CJE6==:?8 E92E 3=6?5D :?5F=86?46[ 4F=EFC6 2?5 5:D4@G6CJ[ 2?5 D92C6D E96> H:E9 2 8=@32= 2F5:6?46 2D 4@\7@F?56C @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^Qmu@@5 sC:?< {:76k^2m] w6C 2CE:4=6D 2AA62C @? |$} 2?5 E9C@F89 E96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD H:C6 :? >2;@C &]$] @FE=6ED[ :?4=F5:?8 }qr[ E96 s2:=J }6HD[ q@DE@? w6C2=5[ E96 r9:428@ $F?\%:>6D 2?5 >2?J >@C6]k^Am
kAm%96 A@DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^7C6D9\2:C\?2E:@?2=\A=2J\@FED:56\52J^QmtG6CJ@?6 4=2:>D E@ =@G6 7C6D9 2:C[ 2?5 2=>@DE ?@3@5J :D 86EE:?8 6?@F89k^2m 2AA62C65 7:CDE @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>Qmu@@5 sC:?< {:76k^2m]k^Am
