Economic Impact

Parks and recreation produces a significant economic benefit. A statistic of the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) (2016) show that spending at local and regional public parks contributed $140 billion in economic activity and generated nearly 1 million jobs in 2013. Also, American Forests, a national conservation organization that promotes forestry, estimates that trees in cities save $400 billion in storm water retention facility costs. Parks and recreation also improves the local tax base and increases property values. It is proven that the value of privately owned land increases the closer such land is to parks. This increase in private property value due to the proximity to parks increases property tax revenues and improves local economies.
Moreover, parks and recreation programs produce a weighty portion of operating costs from revenue generated from fees and charges, but more importantly, quality parks and recreation system provides significant indirect revenues to local and regional economies through attracting business relocation and expansion. Some studies demonstrated that quality parks and recreation departments are cited as one of the top three reasons that business cites in relocation decisions. Business expansion means new homes are constructed, bringing increased revenue to the municipality for services. Other revenue sources come from tourism, visitors who come to participate in sports tournaments and special events such as arts, music, and holiday festivals.