Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit (Episode 43)

Send us Fan MailMaryland has 80 state parks. 500,000 acres of public land. 1,000 miles of trails. Mountains to the west. Bay in the middle. Ocean to the east. And a commitment to making sure that outdoor access reaches every community — including urban Baltimore.Sandy Olek, Director of Outdoor Recreation at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, joins The Parks Podcast to share what makes Maryland one of the best outdoor recreation states in the country — and what the Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit is doing to bring the entire outdoor community together.In this episode: — Maryland's public lands portfolio: 80 state parks, state forests, wildlife management areas — and the differences between them — Patapsco Valley State Park: oldest, largest, 200 miles of trails, 32-mile river, spanning 4 counties right up to Baltimore City — The 25 in 2025 challenge and how the state is encouraging people to explore — The Deep Creek Lake centennial — 100 years of Maryland's most beloved recreation destination — Outdoor equity: adaptive fishing platforms, accessible hunting blinds, vision-impaired programming, and more — The natural health connection: why parks and public lands are a non-medicated path to wellbeing — Maryland Outdoor Equity Grants — capacity-building for organizations reaching veterans, foster youth, and more — The $1.2 trillion outdoor economy — and why bringing the whole industry together matters — The Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit: who's there, what they're doing, and what comes out of itLinks mentioned: — Maryland DNR: dnr.maryland.gov — Maryland State Parks: dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands — Maryland Outdoor Recreation Summit: dnr.maryland.gov/outdoor-recreationSupport the show