Regional Relevance of a Cultural Park: Leverage Points Identified Through Spatial-Social Network Analysis

Elizabeth E. Perry and Brian A. Peterson

Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 2025, vol. 115, issue 10, 2642-2654

Abstract: National parks often attract tourists but are challenged in connecting with locals. This disparity is especially prominent in small national cultural sites (e.g., historic homes with static content), which tend to attract tourists with niche interests but might not be viewed by locals as places for everyday leisure. How, then, can such a park enhance its geographic relevance? Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park (SAGA, New Hampshire, USA) provides an opportunity to examine bridges across this disparity. SAGA primarily attracts an older, nonlocal audience interested in sculptures and numismatics. Annual visitation has also stagnated. We examine how the park and similar entities could connect with locals, particularly local organizations. A network analysis with organizations identified collaborative opportunities, measures of leverage (partners with abundant or inclusive network connections), and spatial distributions of engaged organizations. Envisioning a regionally integrated future for SAGA, we detailed network changes between actual and ideal rates of connection. This reinforced findings on leverage points and specified where and with whom the park could increase its regional visibility and contribution. Our work centers the impact of multimethod inquiry to efficiently address local relevance questions for parks, especially small cultural parks. Our recommendations target strategic areas for such parks and context-transcending considerations.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/24694452.2025.2452565

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