When we first spoke with the Maryland Park Service, it was clear the demand for access to their beautiful parks had reached a critical point. In 2019, visitation hit a record 14.9 million, but by 2020, that number had soared to 21.5 million, a 45% increase in just one year. The surge continued in the years that followed, and with it came serious challenges: traffic backed up for miles, visitors camping overnight just to get in, and parks forced to close hundreds of times after reaching capacity.
Maryland needed a better system to manage this demand, one that balanced access with safety and preserved the visitor experience.
Kaizen is proud to power Maryland’s new day-use reservation system, giving visitors the ability to reserve a spot online up to 7 days in advance, pay ahead, and check in quickly with a QR code. This system reduces congestion, improves safety, and takes the uncertainty out of park visits—making it easier for everyone to enjoy Maryland’s incredible outdoor spaces.