Two-thirds of U.S. adults want their local government to dedicate funds to support local parks and recreation  

Ashburn, Va. (Sept. 30, 2020) —  Two-thirds (66 percent) of U.S. adults want their local government to dedicate funds that directly support parks and recreation, according to a newly released National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) poll. Dedicated park and recreation funding, such as specific revenues, taxes and levies for parks, is essential to the parks, programs and services that help build healthy, strong and vibrant communities nationwide.    

People across all generations support dedicated park and recreation funding, according to the recent survey. Seventy-three percent of Gen Xers support this notion, followed by 72 percent of Gen Zers, 68 percent of millennials and 59 percent of baby boomers. Among those who strongly support this notion is parents. Nearly 80 percent of parents are strong supporters of dedicated funding for local parks and recreation.    

“Dedicated funding for our nation’s park and recreation agencies, and the lifesaving programs and services they provide, is absolutely essential to the health and wellbeing of communities everywhere,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA’s vice president of research, evaluation and technology. “NRPA calls upon communities everywhere to make park and recreation funding a priority — especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a time when our parks and public open spaces are greatly needed.”  

Three in five people — or more than 190 million people — visited a local park, trail, public open space or recreation facility during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic (mid-March through mid-June 2020), according to a recent NRPA report. This same report reveals:  

• More than 4 in 5 people agree parks and recreation is an essential local government service
• Seventy-two percent of U.S. adults are more likely to vote for a local political leader who makes park and recreation funding a priority
• Seventy-seven percent of U.S. adults consider high-quality park and recreation amenities important factors when choosing a new place to live

To view the interactive charts with the survey results, click here.

To view the full-size infographic, click here.

To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.   

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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.