While city folks need places to recreate nearby few of us have the luxury or time to travel to a remote wilderness on whim every weekend the land near urban areas is precisely that most in danger of getting gobbled by development. The best way to face your fears is to take action. And all over the country, outdoors recreationists of all stripes are doing exactly that taking action to save their open spaces. The folks in Tallahassee were in danger of losing access to Bald Point , a prime stretch of beach front. But a deal saved the day.
Some efforts go beyond single communities, and stretch across entire states.
The Wisconsin Ice Age National Scenic Trail across Wisconsin is being built step by step. The Saint John River is a huge block of wildland in Maine preserved in one of the largest deals in the century. Much of our treasured open space is farmland. French King Gorge in Massachusetts is an inspired example of preservation of farmland along with wild land. Open space preservation even extends to towns thought to be outdoor recreation hubs, such as Bozeman, Montana.