Approach
In the case of historic or other older sites, the materials employed in the construction of facilities may be inadequate in addressing future risks. This brings with it the opportunity to make improvements in a manner that can withstand a greater range of climate-exacerbated stressors, such as increased precipitation and mold, more frequent wind or rain events, or the arrival of invasive wood-boring insects. New technologies and more resilient materials have been developed since the construction of many public recreational facilities and could be incorporated into new or existing structures. Examples include materials designed to reflect heat, permeable pavement to accommodate excessive rain, and trail-building materials that can withstand flooding. However, it is also important to consider how the installation of new materials may impact the integrity of historic sites. Although there may be restrictive aspects in terms of how to upgrade historic sites, regular and thoughtful repair and maintenance alone can improve a building’s resilience to changes in climate.
Tactics
- Apply appropriate surficial treatments to existing infrastructural materials, e.g. water-repellant treatments on mold-prone surfaces or insect-repellant treatments on wooden surfaces at risk of infestation.
- Use green roofs, heat-repellent roofs, or solar panels made of materials or colors that reflect sunlight and heat away from the building.
- Use heat-repellent or solar paving materials that reflect solar energy and do not radiate as much heat as conventional asphalt or concrete.
- Replace conventional asphalt or concrete with permeable pavement to better withstand excessive moisture, high-intensity rain events, and more frequent snowmelt cycles.
- Use trail-building materials that can withstand flooding events or inundation, such as polymer glue embedded in gravel, machine-compacted mineral soil or limestone, or rockwork, where appropriate.
- Install water-repellant heavy-duty tiles in bathrooms or lower levels of buildings at risk of flooding or inundation.
- Strengthen windows, use tie-downs, and reinforce roofs for facilities at risk of extreme wind events.
Strategy
Strategy Text
The impacts of climate change will stress the existing recreational infrastructure that is located in vulnerable locations, such as along coastlines and shorelines with fluctuating water levels, within floodplains, in drought-prone areas, or in areas that are projected to experience dramatic increases in precipitation. There are a number of instances in which recreation managers might wish to retain infrastructure in place despite site-specific vulnerabilities. Examples include cultural, historic, or interpretive sites that are dependent on their location to provide contextual integrity, or other sites whose proximity to water or snow is essential to their recreational character. Additional considerations could include the sheer force of prior investment in a site, or the political or social infeasibility of taking alternate actions. This strategy actively works to maintain key infrastructure in place by increasing its resistance to current and future environmental conditions. Application of this strategy does not remove the risks that affect vulnerable infrastructure, and in some instances, an increasing risk of failure may be experienced over time, which could necessitate a reevaluation of adaptation options over the long term.
O’Toole, D.; Brandt, L.A.; Janowiak, M.K.; Schmitt, K.M.; Shannon, P.D.; Leopold, P.R.; Handler, S.D.; Ontl, T.A.; Swanston, C.W. Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Outdoor Recreation. Sustainability 2019, 11, 7030.