Engagement with Parks Report

Local parks and recreation improves the lives of millions of people each and every day. Public parks, trails and indoor and outdoor recreation facilities promote better physical and mental health, serve as places for family and friends to meet and are often the oases where people can reconnect with nature. Over the past year, 275 million people accessed their local parks or recreation facilities. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic or in the midst of local natural disasters, 10,000 park and recreation agencies have been on the front lines of cities’, towns’ and counties’ emergency responses to those challenges, offering nutritious meals, providing facilities for testing and vaccinations and delivering important supplies.

Since 2016, the Research team of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has conducted a yearly survey to better understand how people connect with parks and recreation across the United States. The report provides park and recreation professionals and advocates, policymakers, and other key stakeholders with insights into how local parks and recreation facilities impact the lives of every person in our nation.

The 2022 NRPA Engagement with Parks Report makes clear this point: people place a high value on the programs and services that park and recreation agencies deliver to their local communities every day and strongly support their mission. The public’s strong and broad-based support for parks and recreation continues to be shown regardless of what the world may be going through.

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Key Findings

275 million people in the United States visited a local park or recreation facility at least once during the past year
Nearly three in four U.S. residents have at least one local park, playground, open space or recreation center within walking distance of their homes
84 percent U.S. adults seek high-quality parks and recreation when choosing a place to live
Nine in 10 people agree that parks and recreation is an important service provided by their local government
Nearly three in four people agree that equity should in an extremely or very important goal for their local park and recreation agency

2022 Infographic

Engagement with Parks Report – 2021

The 2021 NRPA Engagement with Parks Report dives into a host of topics related to how adults and their families interact with their local park and recreation system. Among many other subjects is a snapshot of when and why the public visits their local parks and other recreation facilities, the public’s wish to be engaged by their local park and recreation professionals to identify needs and desires and their support for increased funding to ensure equitable access for all.

Engagement with Parks Report — 2020

The 2020 Engagement with Parks Report continues to demonstrate the essential value of local parks and recreation. It provides a unique look at the field during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and showcases the vital role that agencies and professionals serve in their communities.

Engagement with Parks Report — 2019

The 2019 Engagement with Parks Report looks at how people interact with parks, the key reasons driving this interaction and the greatest challenges that prevent increased usage. Additionally, the study takes a closer look at people’s favorite outdoor activities, as well as their support of local governments expanding open space in their jurisdictions for the protection of natural resources in the community.

Engagement with Parks Report — 2018

Similar to the 2019 report, the 2018 study probes the importance of public parks in peoples’ lives, including how parks rate against other service offerings of local governments. In addition, the 2018 study addresses the level of interest in improving easy access to high-quality parks and recreation facilities, including the public’s support of local officials who advocate for parks and increased funding for them.

Engagement with Parks Report — 2016

The inaugural edition of this study found that seven in 10 U.S. adults say they are more likely to vote for local politicians who make park and recreation funding a priority. Further, most people back increased local government spending for park and recreation agencies with solid support for a nearly 30 percent increase in funding for local park and recreation agencies.

The National Recreation and Parks Association

Key Findings

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Additional Resources