The Tennessee RiverLine's mission is to transform the way communities and individuals experience the Tennessee River. PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | A UGUS T 2 0 2 1 | Parks & Recreation 35 C apitalizing on our natural assets is nothing new to us park and recreation professionals, but it's definitely a trend we saw increase when our country suddenly faced quarantine living and travel restrictions due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Many turned their eyes to the water, putting their vacation money toward purchasing watercraft. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, boat sales increased by 9 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels. What's more, the global canoeing and kayaking equipment market is expected to grow by $124.44 million between 2020 and 2024 (tinyurl.com/sz8wncs9). In the bicycling world, the trends are even more staggering. In the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, bicycle sales went up slightly more than 120 percent, according to The Washington Post (tinyurl.com/pz8tyvvp).http://www.tinyurl.com/sz8wncs9 http://www.tinyurl.com/pz8tyvvp