National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has announced the first study identifying and quantifying the nationwide economic contribution of the thousands of local and regional public parks throughout the country is now available and the findings are significant. This report not only demonstrates that the nation’s local and regional parks generate nearly $140 billion in economic activity per year and support nearly 1 million jobs, but also breaks down the significant economic impact for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Local parks contribute to healthier communities, bring diverse populations together and support environmental conservation and stewardship. All of these are important contributions to communities and are benefits felt by millions of people. Now, we know definitively that parks are also powerful engines of valuable economic activity and deserve support and recognition from elected officials, policymakers and the public.
The Executive Summary from the study conducted by the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University for NRPA can be found here.