The Great Outdoors - only for rich people?

[Anonymous]

This article from the Washington Post last week got me really depressed.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/08/16/ranch-land-west-billionaires/

The idea of billionaires owning ranches isn't new, but when you think about it, the whole romantic idea of the backcountry mountain West becoming a private playground for rich people, most of whom don't give a hoot about actually saving the environment on the global scale and use it just to play pretend Wild West or something.... ugh. I fear the day when some Republican president will start to privatize and sell off our natural parks for drilling and development. Is there nothing sacred in this country?

Going off of that, I remember reading some articles a while back about "racial and class equity in the Great Outdoors" and I laughed it off as some millennial woke solution in search of a problem. But it is really hitting home. It's harder to escape to nature, actual nature, unless you are wealthy. Never mind the time and resources to travel if you don't live somewhere with easy outdoor access, there seem to be increasingly limited opportunities to access undeveloped, unspoiled nature that isn't private playgrounds for rich people. Even many things that are public, require far advanced planning and expensive permits (though I understand the reasoning for this).

[Anonymous]

Come camp in Patapsco state park for like 30 dollars.

[Anonymous]

Do you not include state parks as actual nature? Maryland and Virginia have many state parks. I've been camping at several of them.

Maryland just increased funding for state parks.
https://southernmarylandchronicle.com/2022/05/15/maryland-state-park-budget-increase-to-prepare-parks-for-next-century/

[Anonymous]

Just go walk into the woods. I can be surrounded my nature pretty easily and I’m not rich.

[Anonymous]

I'm more concerned that billionaires are buying up farmable land. Why? Will farming become a rich person thing too?

[Anonymous]

I'm more concerned that billionaires are buying up farmable land. Why? Will farming become a rich person thing too?

Farming already is for rich people. The capital equipment and acreage required in order to be profitable are prohibitive for most people.

[Anonymous]

Have you ever actually camped?

It's really not just wealthy people.

[Anonymous]

OP, you have a point. There has been a lack of planning when it comes to accessible outdoor spaces. Maryland's popular state parks that are most accessible to the majority of residents are filled to capacity almost every weekend, with people lining up to get in hours before opening.

For those who are saying, "just go camping," may state parks are booked solid weeks in advance, which aligns with the OP's sentiment. It's actually a good problem, demonstrating how many people increased their outdoor activities due to the pandemic.

Maryland lawmakers are working on improvements.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/bs-md-state-park-investment-20220422-kh3nay2op5bn5pgn6e3otkn36m-story.html

[Anonymous]

You don't seem very resourceful.

Instagram-worthy glamping, which I'm guessing is what you're actually interested in doing, can be pricey as you want it to be.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, the NYTimes has promoted the Fresh Air Fund since the 80s I think. The idea that the affluent are more able to take advantage of the great outdoors is nothing new.

[Anonymous]

My BIL lives in Jackson Wy and is broke af. But, he does get a fresh crop of college girls every spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever actually camped?

It's really not just wealthy people.

Have you seen the prices at camping gear retailers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever actually camped?

It's really not just wealthy people.

Have you seen the prices at camping gear retailers?

DP. Retailers are not the only place to get camping gear. We've gotten great stuff (not the latest/highest tech but perfectly usable) from Facebook Marketplace, estate/yard sales, etc. We even borrow/loan equipment. It's doesn't have to be expensive at all.

[Anonymous]

Green space has been an issue since there have been urban areas. It's hardly a new issue but one that elected officials need to care about before it'll get better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you have a point. There has been a lack of planning when it comes to accessible outdoor spaces. Maryland's popular state parks that are most accessible to the majority of residents are filled to capacity almost every weekend, with people lining up to get in hours before opening.

For those who are saying, "just go camping," may state parks are booked solid weeks in advance, which aligns with the OP's sentiment. It's actually a good problem, demonstrating how many people increased their outdoor activities due to the pandemic.

Maryland lawmakers are working on improvements.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/bs-md-state-park-investment-20220422-kh3nay2op5bn5pgn6e3otkn36m-story.html

+1 As a PP mentioned, the state has increased investment to provide more park space, but the demand exceeded the supply even before the pandemic.