State park

A state park (literally German translation Staatspark ) designates in the United States of America a nature or monument protected area, which has been placed under special protection by the governments of the individual states . In contrast to the under federal situated national parks , state parks comprise a much smaller area in general and are often the recreation. According to the state parks umbrella organization, there are over 8,500 state parks in the United States, covering an area of ​​over 75,600 square kilometers (as of 2017).

Antelope Island State Park, Utah

Hawk's Nest in West Virginia

In the United States, there are state parks in all US states . In individual cases, their area approaches that of national parks and specific ordinances can give a protection status that corresponds to that of national parks (IUCN category II). However, some of them are also parks or even campsites. All states have a State Park Service that is entrusted with the administration and maintenance of the protected areas. The most significant landscapes and sites of the United States are under the administration of the National Park Service (NPS) or similar institutions of the US Department of the Interior , the criteria for the designation of a state park are more oriented towards regional historical aspects. Exceptions are such large areas as Adirondack State Park in New York State or the Anza Borrego Desert in California , each of which is protected by a state.

Because these protected areas are not part of the NPS National Park System, America the Beautiful Annual Pass is generally not recognized. On routes of interest to tourists - such as in southern Utah , where several national parks and monuments are located close together - state parks such as Dead Horse Point benefit from their tourism.

As a rule, well-tended green spaces, sanitary facilities and suitable picnic and overnight accommodations are available at state parks that are subject to a charge .

All state parks in the United States

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii	Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa California Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland	Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey	New Mexico new York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South carolina	South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Individual evidence

1. ^ State Park Facts. Retrieved October 3, 2019 (American English).