Before, during, and irrespective of the pandemic: leisure constraints and urban national park visitation

Urban and urban-proximate national park sites provide diverse leisure opportunities for residents, yet potential barriers and constraints for visitation exist. We examined constraints prior to, during, and regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Washington, D.C. Metro area at Rock Creek Park and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Visitors and non-visitors (n = 840) responses were assessed for differences in their (1) demographic characteristics and leisure activities, (2) perceived constraints, and (3) the (a)temporal dimensions of these constraints (i.e. considering or despite COVID-19). Findings illustrate constraints were largely similar for both populations, but non-visitors reported significantly more physical limitations during the pandemic; overall, this demographically diverse group reported significantly less knowledge related to national park site visitation. Findings help point park managers towards information, outreach, and social support as potential tools to improve the visitor experience in these and other national park unit settings.