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  2020-03-27

  Our Forgotten Parks

  May 5th, 2020 COVID-19 has a larger impact than just our economy and the shut in of our population. With schools being closed and classes being moved to online, it is also our public education that is being afflicted by this virus. While economic recessions come and go, missed opportunities for education are sometimes looked over and forgotten, missing their mark on improving someone’s life. Many parks, historical sites, and zoos are currently closed and unable to provide the people an opportunity to explore the world around them. The photo above is the Salem Pioneer Village in Forest River Park and offers a genuine educational look at the puritan ways of life in early Salem. The park offers tours and select hours of operation, meaning it isn’t always open for the public. So a forced closure of this public park has a significant impact, very similar to many other locations that are not privately owned. While this park is small, there are many very large parks that are completely closed and inaccessible to the public. Some of these places being of significance, Acadia National Park, the only national park in New England is currently closed. Another is the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, better known as the AT, is currently closed off to hikers during the best time of the year to accomplish this great feat. COVID-19 will present a significant obstacle in the recovering phase of many of the parks and educational sites throughout the U.S.; however, it does provide an opportunity for nature to relax and not deal with human interaction.