While all of the fifty state park systems share common attributes, they nevertheless vary considerably from state to state. For this reason, total comparability among the reported data cannot be achieved. Effort has been made, however, to devise common denominators that will allow a useful degree of comparison. Users of these data are admonished to become familiar with the definitions and guidelines established for certain categories, as set forth below. Inventory is measured in terms of number of areas and total acreage.
Areas are individual units, or pieces of property, managed as part of the state park system.
The total acreage of a state park system includes water surface area only when the measured water bodies are wholly enclosed within the boundaries of a unit of the state park system. An operational area is one that is open for regular use by the visiting public, and normally implies an appropriate level of development and staffing. Areas other than the above, that are considered special or significant enough in a particular state to warrant separate identification and treatment.