The Social Science of Parks

David Flores may not be who you would expect to pour his talent and research into outdoor recreation and conservation.

Typically, someone who devotes their career to parks, recreation, or conservation grew up playing and exploring in the outdoors. David Flores did not recreation in parks and forests when he was a kid. Yet, he is now a research social scientist with the US Forest Service.

How did that happen?

As he graduated with a PHD, Flores was connected to the Forest Service through the Presidential Management Fellowship Program. Working for the Forest Service allowed David to continue to focus on research, and he found that appealing.

Now, Flores realizes the power of spending time outdoors and the connection people have with the land. His research is focused on human dimension issues related to the land, such as urban planning, climate change, rural life, and ecological change.

As part of his research, David meets people who make a living on the land and listens to their stories. In this interview, David shares what he has learned during his research. We discuss the importance of parks to a community and what he has learned about urban green space.

Given his background, David offers unique insight how parks can connect with people who have not grown up with access to, or interest in, recreating outdoors.

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