Outdoor Access on Public Lands Is Treated as Essential Public Health Infrastructure
It’s 2026 and as the nation approaches America’s 250th anniversary, a quiet yet profound shift is taking shape across our public-lands landscape: access to the outdoors is beginning to be recognized not simply as a recreational amenity, but as one of America’s most effective, scalable public-health improvement strategies.
For years, research has drawn a straight line between time outside and improved mental and physical health, lower chronic-disease risk, stronger social connection, and higher quality of life. What’s changing now is that policymakers, state leaders, the outdoor recreation industry, and health professionals are converging around the same conclusion: public lands are part of the nation’s health infrastructure—and must be treated, funded, and planned for accordingly.
In 2026, that convergence will be visible and growing. Twenty-six states will have established Offices of Outdoor Recreation, each working to leverage outdoor access as an economic and community-health strategy. At the federal level, implementation of the EXPLORE Act (Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences) will continue to reshape how agencies think about access, data, and visitor experience. And as America 250 unfolds, a growing coalition will spotlight 250 high-value recreation sites—campgrounds, trails, boat launches, and marinas—as national symbols of a healthier, more connected country.
Expect this momentum to crystallize into a broader public narrative: that expanding outdoor access is one of the most cost-effective ways to address America’s mental and physical health crisis, strengthen rural and urban economies, and build stronger, more resilient communities. We’ll see more partnerships between health agencies and land managers; more employers encouraging time outside as part of workforce wellness; and more state and federal leaders embracing outdoor investments as a bipartisan solution with immediate benefits.
If America’s first 250 years were defined by exploration, ingenuity, and a belief in the power of our shared landscapes, the next chapter will be defined by something just as foundational: recognizing that a healthy nation depends on healthy access to the outdoors. In 2026, public lands will finally be seen for what they truly are—essential infrastructure for America’s well-being.
