Development, Characteristics and Assessment of U.S. State Park System

Compared with the national park system, the state park system of the United States has served more as nearby recreational and amusement bases for local residents within the states, and has played a significant role in the whole public outdoor recreational space system of the U.S. This essay is the first in the Chinese academic circle to study the development, characteristics and evolution of the state park system of the U.S. and the relationship between the state park system and the national park system. By taking some states as examples, it has studied the classifications, quality assessments, accessibility and spatial distribution evaluation. The results show that the state park system represents the active efforts of the U.S. to relieve tourism pressures from the national parks, and satisfies public needs for outdoor recreation and natural experience. It is worthy of reference in China which is building the national park and protected area system. Finally, it discusses the necessity and urgency for China to establish a provincial and regional park, protected area and recreational area system based on the current progress and development of the national park and protected area system in China, to satisfy increasing needs of the public recreational, tourism and leisure system from local residents within the provinces and neighboring regions.