Park and recreation investments are powerful economic drivers in communities nationwide
Ashburn, Va. (Feb. 27, 2020) — More than nine in 10 adults from every major demographic group want their local government to invest in infrastructure improvements that promote economic activity in their community, according to a newly released National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) poll. More than three in four adults say such investments are extremely or very important.
Local parks and recreation encourage more healthy and vibrant communities; they also benefit the local economy. Ninety-four percent of adults recognize the economic importance of their local government investing in infrastructure improvements, such as parks, trails, roads and schools.
“Park and recreation professionals everywhere contribute significantly to their local economies through the parks and open spaces they manage, and the lifesaving programs they offer,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA’s vice president of research, evaluation and technology. “As powerful economic drivers, local and regional park agencies provide valuable contributions to their communities such as job creation, higher home prices, lowered health care costs, environmental benefits and tourism.”
Park and recreation professionals and their agencies spark economic activity in a variety of ways, including direct and indirect employment, on-site transactions, increased property values, increased physical activity, and effective land management methods and green infrastructure investments. To learn more about the economic impact of parks and recreation, see The Economic Impact of Local Parks report at www.nrpa.org/ParkEconReport.
This poll is part of NRPA’s Park Pulse, a continuing series of monthly surveys that gauge the public’s opinion on topics relating to parks and recreation. To explore previous Park Pulse survey results, visit nrpa.org/ParkPulse.
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 supporters — the catalysts for positive change in service of parks for all, 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.