Designing a Data-and Theory-Driven System for Fairly Allocating Trailhead Parking

This research note presents an application of a recently developed theoretical framework for allocating scarce recreation resources—in this case, trailhead parking—in a fair and data-driven manner. Drawing from this theoretical frame-work, developed by university and agency researchers, this study operationalizes a set of six allocation design principles—equitable, flexible, accessible, balanced, data-driven, and meets agency requirements—within the context of Yellowstone National Park. Results reveal varying levels of support for rationing mechanisms and significant variation in preferred booking windows based on visitors’ prox-imity to the park. By grounding a hypothetical design in both empirical data and new theoretical guidance, this work fills a gap in recreation allocation research. It also provides a replicable model for managers seeking to implement allocation systems that are not only operationally viable but also fair—highlighting the importance of integrating data with theory in applied visitor use management.