At RRC Associates, we specialize in delivering high-quality, data-driven insights to support public lands management across the United States. As a national leader in public lands visitor research, open space planning, and economic impact analysis, we help land managers make informed decisions. From surveying to analyzing mobile analytics, our comprehensive approach ensures you have the tools needed to plan for the future.
Client Case Studies
RRC has worked with a variety of public land agencies to better understand their visitor use. Learn more by reading a few of our client case studies.
The Explore Act (H.R. 6492) was passed by the 118th US Congress to improve access, equity, and data across America’s public lands. Included in the act are provisions which emphasize the importance of robust, ongoing visitor estimation and public lands visitor analysis. These encourage land managers to conduct regular assessments of visitor use, outdoor recreation participation, and resource needs.
The legislation recognizes the growing pressure on public spaces and the importance of understanding who uses public lands, how, and why. As a result, agencies and communities now have increased incentives to invest in public lands research and data-driven planning strategies.
Why Conduct Public Lands Research?
Understanding how people interact with parks, trails, forests, and open spaces is essential for sustainable growth, capacity management, and equitable access. Whether you’re wondering how to estimate visitors, measure the economic impact, or plan for the future, RRC provides statistically valid, defensible research to support every step of the process.
Our work includes major projects like the “Our Lands – Our Future” study with Larimer County, Colorado, a county-wide planning effort that evaluated land use preferences, open space visitor research, and recreation trends to support long-term visioning.
RRC also conducts comprehensive gateway community research to understand the impacts of tourism and recreation on small towns adjacent to public lands.
Research in Gateway Communities
As visitation to public lands increases, gateway communities—the small towns and cities bordering parks and recreation areas—feel the effects. From increased housing pressure to economic shifts, these communities benefit from targeted data on tourism patterns, visitor spending, and infrastructure needs. RRC regularly conducts this research through tourism impact studies, economic impact studies, and housing research. These insights support strategic investments, improve visitor experiences, and help ensure community resilience.
Key Challenges Public Lands Research Can Help Solve
- Estimating visitors to public lands, national parks, and state parks
- Surveying public land users and outdoor recreation participants
- Understanding public land trends and outdoor recreation demand
- Supporting inclusive, data-informed open space planning
- Conducting gateway community surveys to assess tourism impacts
- Measuring the economic impact of public lands and recreation
- Planning for sustainable outdoor recreation development
- Identifying infrastructure needs and usage patterns
- Evaluating equitable access and future land acquisition strategies
- Answering key questions such as:
- How to estimate visitors to public lands?
- How to measure economic impact of public land?
- How to support gateway communities?
Let’s Work Together
Whether you need detailed visitor counts, statistically valid surveying, or visitor trend analysis, RRC Associates is here to help. Our expert team blends social science methods, mobile data analysis, and strategic planning to deliver actionable, defensible insights for public land agencies and partner organizations.
Contact us today to discuss your needs for public lands visitor research, gateway community planning, or economic impact of national parks and outdoor recreation.