2022 Economic Impact Report

An Examination of the Economic Impacts of Operations and Capital Spending 
by Local Park and Recreation Agencies on the U.S. Economy
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF LOCAL PARKS

KEY FINDINGS
Local public park and recreation agencies in the United States 
generated nearly $218 billion in economic activity and supported almost 
1.3 million jobs that boosted labor income by more than $68 billion 
from their operations and capital spending in 2019. 
Impact of Local Park and Recreation Agencies on the U.S. Economy – 2019
Economic Activity
Employment
Total Impact
$217.8 billion
1,280,724 jobs
Operations Spending
$112.9 billion
686,254 jobs
Capital Spending
$104.8 billion
594,470 jobs
Sources: IMPLAN and Center for Regional Analysis – George Mason University for NRPA, U.S. Census Bureau
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KEY FINDINGS
Parks and recreation is essential infrastructure in healthy, vibrant and resilient communities. Through the 
tireless efforts of hundreds of thousands of full-time, part-time and seasonal workers — and supported 
by countless volunteers and advocates — local park and recreation agencies have a positive impact on 
the lives of millions of people. Park and recreation facilities, amenities and programming are diverse; they 
range from no- or low-cost fitness opportunities (such as a walking trail or a fitness class at a community 
center) and access to nutritious meals at out-of-school time programs for youth to providing our cities, 
towns and counties with cleaner air and water thanks to preserved open space.
Park and recreation professionals and their agencies make critical contributions to their communities as 
highlighted by the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) Three Pillars:
•	
Health and Wellness – Local park and recreation agencies provide spaces, programs and services 
that are essential to a community’s vitality. They also serve as key factors in advancing health 
equity, improving individual and community-level health outcomes, and enhancing quality of 
life. Park and recreation professionals are uniquely positioned to create — in partnership with the 
community, public health leaders and other local organizations — upstream solutions that catalyze 
and transform park and recreation agencies into holistic and people-centered Community Wellness 
Hubs.
•	
Equity – Every person in every community deserves to benefit from the power of parks and 
recreation. The very philosophy behind public parks and recreation is the idea that all people 
— regardless of race, ethnicity, age, income level, identity or ability — have access to programs, 
facilities, places and spaces that improve quality of life and build healthy communities. Parks and 
recreation truly builds communities — communities for all. 
•	
Conservation – Creating resilient and climate-ready communities depends on parks and recreation. 
Park and recreation professionals are champions in addressing our most pressing environmental 
challenges; the parks and open spaces they manage maximize the benefits of nature to achieve 
positive and equitable health and economic impacts at the community level.
Park and recreation professionals and their agencies make another valuable contribution: promoting 
economic activity that makes our cities, towns and counties more prosperous. Just how significant is the 
impact of local park and recreation agencies on the U.S. economy? 
To answer this question, NRPA joined forces with the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason 
University in 2015, to conduct the first nationwide study on the economic impact of local park and 
recreation agencies’ operations and capital spending. Since then, NRPA and the Center for Regional 
Analysis have partnered thrice more to update that landmark 2015 research: in 2018, 2020 and 2022. 
Each of the studies focuses exclusively on the direct, indirect and induced effects local park and recreation 
agencies’ spending have on economic activity using U.S. Census Bureau data compiled for the analysis. 
This report summarizes the key findings of the 2022 research. A more detailed description, including a 
discussion of the methodology and implications, is available at nrpa.org/ParkEconReport.

U.S. ECONOMIC IMPACT
Local park and recreation agencies employed more than 385,000 full-time and part-time employees in 
2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That translates to almost $49 billion of operations spending 
by the nation’s more than 10,000 local park and recreation agencies. This spending — combined with 
capital expenditures — ripples through the national, regional and local economies as park and recreation 
employees spend their paychecks, park and recreation agency vendors hire workers, and both agencies 
and their vendors purchase products and services to serve their clients. 
The result of park and recreation expenditures on the nation’s economy is immense. The shared impact of 
operations and capital spending by U.S. local park and recreation agencies in 2019 resulted in nearly $218 
billion in economic activity and $107 billion in added gross domestic product (GDP) and supported nearly 
1.3 million jobs that paid salaries, wages and benefits totaling $68.4 billion.
Local park and recreation 
agencies generated nearly $218 
billion in economic activity and 
supported almost 1.3 million 
jobs in 2019.
Total Impact of Local Park and 
Recreation Agencies’ Spending
Economic activity (transactions)
$217.76 billion
Value added (gross domestic product)
$106.98 billion
Labor income (salaries, wages, benefits)
$68.44 billion
Employment (jobs)
1,280,724 jobs
Sources: IMPLAN, Center for Regional Analysis – George Mason University for NRPA, U.S. Census Bureau
Impacts of Local Park and Recreation Agency Spending on the U.S. Economy – 2019
People attend the 32nd Annual Independence Day Parade in Farragut, Tennessee. Photo by 
Carisa Ownby.

Preliminary Results for 2020
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected nearly every facet of life, parks and recreation 
included. In many cities, towns and counties across the United States, however, parks, trails and 
other public spaces remained open, and provided valued respites for physical activity and recreation 
during a very challenging time. Park and recreation agencies and their staff pivoted to deliver 
emergency services to their communities, such as serving as COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites 
and distributing meals. 
The economic impact of these agencies remained resilient, too. Preliminary estimates show that 
operations and capital spending in 2020 led to $225.0 billion in economic activity and supported 
1.25 million jobs.
Preliminary Estimate of the Economic Impact of Local Park and Recreation Agencies  
on the U.S. Economy – 2020
Total Impact of Local Park and Recreation 
Agencies’ Spending
Economic activity (transactions)
$225.02 billion
Value added (gross domestic product)
$108.65 billion
Labor income (salaries, wages, benefits)
$68.97 billion
Employment (jobs)
1,247,017 jobs
Sources: IMPLAN, Center for Regional Analysis – George Mason University for NRPA, U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. ECONOMIC IMPACT
Attendees of the North Chagrin Summer Camp walk the Willow Branch Nature Trail. Photo by Kyle Lanzer, courtesy of Cleveland Metroparks.

This study also examined the economic impact of local park and recreation agencies’ spending in all 50 
states and the District of Columbia. The methodology used in the state-level analysis mirrored that for the 
national study. The estimates of total economic impacts include the direct, indirect and induced effects 
of operations and capital spending by local park and recreation agencies in each state and the District of 
Columbia. 
Impact of Local Park and Recreation Agency Spending on State Economies – 2019 
State
Employment
Labor Income
Value Added
Economic Activity
Alabama
15,348 
 $651,815,076 
 $968,962,257 
 $2,074,811,929 
Alaska
2,436 
 $128,750,088 
 $197,457,958 
 $397,859,417 
Arizona
20,360 
 $969,578,370 
 $1,566,748,260 
 $3,304,989,339 
Arkansas
8,854 
 $347,365,396 
 $540,930,446 
 $1,149,932,788 
California
127,600 
 $7,454,796,148 
 $11,312,230,491 
 $23,623,079,078 
Colorado
41,976 
 $2,196,664,230 
 $3,404,420,455 
 $6,982,346,026 
Connecticut
7,120 
 $386,895,021 
 $566,370,006 
 $1,114,018,171 
Delaware
2,731 
 $139,428,435 
 $216,578,852 
 $445,470,653 
District of Columbia
6,384 
 $442,135,815 
 $657,659,039 
 $1,442,361,444 
Florida
97,501 
 $4,426,656,602 
 $7,345,851,964 
 $15,947,448,166 
Georgia
34,238 
 $1,504,933,141 
 $2,379,731,449 
 $4,979,693,655 
Hawaii
8,572 
 $462,964,112 
 $711,367,441 
 $1,382,382,611 
Idaho
6,241 
 $280,892,101 
 $442,260,249 
 $987,795,641 
Illinois
60,000 
 $3,056,226,499 
 $4,989,057,917 
 $9,893,097,615 
Indiana
13,838 
 $628,826,865 
 $1,059,988,503 
 $2,198,298,077 
Iowa
8,385 
 $388,234,552 
 $29,549,008 
 $1,365,669,998 
Kansas
12,067 
 $553,104,369 
 $845,507,759 
 $1,794,310,796 
Kentucky
8,827 
 $363,947,712 
 $567,243,390 
 $1,320,817,940 
Louisiana
19,009 
 $875,335,408 
 $1,451,541,312 
 $3,081,187,441 
Maine 
2,464 
 $92,567,722 
 $143,939,202 
 $303,230,532 
Maryland
27,974 
 $1,480,134,422 
 $2,318,025,964 
 $4,590,263,035 
Massachusetts
13,643 
 $818,839,621 
 $1,200,032,621 
 $2,254,340,648 
Michigan
22,548 
 $1,129,923,090 
 $1,844,711,303 
 $4,107,024,794 
Minnesota
27,463 
 $1,562,414,815 
 $2,438,097,363 
 $5,167,013,455 
Mississippi
7,322 
 $301,297,647 
 $478,189,020 
 $1,085,028,752 
Missouri
23,064 
 $1,128,825,692 
 $1,783,974,762 
 $3,636,518,937 
STATE-LEVEL ANALYSIS

Impact of Local Park and Recreation Agency Spending on State Economies – 2019  (cont.)
Montana
3,916 
 $191,132,441 
 $284,311,510 
 $634,228,445 
Nebraska
9,631 
 $479,853,688 
 $714,960,686 
 $1,602,027,016 
Nevada
58,392 
 $3,517,896,935 
 $5,615,230,371 
 $11,134,637,681 
New Hampshire
2,158 
 $96,634,741 
 $148,324,927 
 $314,455,946 
New Jersey
17,940 
 $946,221,766 
 $1,413,831,635 
 $2,552,120,029 
New Mexico
9,857 
 $416,058,523 
 $654,024,854 
 $1,374,984,731 
New York
77,105 
 $4,828,806,143 
 $7,352,532,632 
 $14,089,125,737 
North Carolina
37,511 
 $2,093,336,805 
 $3,064,471,638 
 $6,037,512,440 
North Dakota
6,859 
 $352,781,735 
 $537,316,152 
 $1,220,630,384 
Ohio
43,306 
 $2,160,222,072 
 $3,419,555,293 
 $7,047,862,139 
Oklahoma
19,718 
 $987,940,351 
 $1,497,955,439 
 $3,387,540,973 
Oregon
18,064 
 $937,839,394 
 $1,457,710,363 
 $2,995,234,595 
Pennsylvania
20,878 
 $1,168,754,188 
 $1,897,412,064 
 $3,829,272,383 
Rhode Island
1,459 
 $67,676,611 
 $109,808,005 
 $223,583,142 
South Carolina
18,205 
 $794,811,379 
 $1,240,098,551 
 $2,714,181,055 
South Dakota
3,720 
 $176,411,461 
 $269,485,936 
 $613,030,056 
Tennessee
17,995 
 $852,569,033 
 $1,292,161,403 
 $2,643,931,995 
Texas
77,149 
 $3,877,977,407 
 $5,872,912,123 
 $12,094,925,549 
Utah
18,700 
 $882,890,731 
 $1,389,792,312 
 $2,960,427,055 
Vermont
1,519 
 $74,707,109 
 $113,592,830 
 $245,764,108 
Virginia
30,162 
 $1,420,190,988 
 $2,256,407,901 
 $4,600,320,899 
Washington
34,718 
 $2,229,735,609 
 $3,471,351,248 
 $6,462,337,579 
West Virginia
6,407 
 $296,241,584 
 $494,399,206 
 $1,033,634,110 
Wisconsin
18,619 
 $992,375,176 
 $1,577,173,051 
 $3,342,438,343 
Wyoming 
3,705 
 $165,161,863 
 $253,205,824 
 $543,010,454 
Sources: IMPLAN, Center for Regional Analysis – George Mason University for NRPA, U.S. Census Bureau
NOTE: The sum of the state-level impacts presented in this table does not equal the national level economic 
impact estimates presented in the previous section. The difference reflects how the full economic impact 
of local park and recreation agency spending is not confined within state borders. For example, if the 
playground equipment installed at park in Maryland, came from a manufactuer located in Idaho, the value 
of that product production would not count as an impact on the Maryland economy, nor does the study 
include such an impact in the estimates for Idaho.

These estimates of the economic impact generated from park and recreation agency spending come from 
an input-output model that estimates direct, indirect and induced effects of those expenditures. 
•	
Direct effects reflect the spending by local park and recreation agencies — whether for operations 
or capital programs — and include wages and benefits for agency employees and spending on 
equipment, utilities, goods and services. 
•	
Indirect effects capture the spending associated with local park and recreation agencies’ vendors. 
An example is an agency contracting with a local landscaping company to mow ballfields. The 
landscaping company hires employees, purchases mowers and contracts with a bookkeeping 
service; in turn, the bookkeeping service leases office space, employs workers, purchases office 
supplies and so forth. 
•	
Induced effects track the impact of consumer spending (from wages) by park and recreation 
agency employees and employees working for the agency’s vendors. 
The model estimates the total effects on economic activity (output), employment, labor income and value 
added resulting from park and recreation agencies’ operations and capital spending: 
•	
Economic activity (output) measures the value of the resulting transactions
•	
Employment is the number of headcount jobs, both full- and part-time 
•	
Labor income includes salaries, wages and fringe benefits
•	
Value added is the measure most equivalent to GDP and includes property income, dividends, 
corporate profits and other measures 
WHAT THE RESULTS MEAN
Children play in the water in front of a fire truck in the park. Photo courtesy of Ginger Clark, Centreville-Washington Park District.

Your Local Park and Recreation Agency Generates Additional Economic Benefits 
While the figures presented in this report are significant, they represent only one aspect of the economic 
benefits of public parks. Indeed, the conclusions of this report are conservative estimates of parks and 
recreation’s full economic benefits. 
Beyond the impact of local park and recreation agency spending, other critical economic impacts from 
public parks include:
•	
Health and wellness: Parks and recreation promotes improved physical and mental health. This 
not only helps people feel better, but also can help lower medical and insurance costs for those 
people taking advantage of those facilities and activities. An NRPA-commissioned literature 
review demonstrates how parks and recreation supports healthy, productive lives and resilient, 
cohesive communities. Ninety-three percent of U.S. adults responding to the June 2021 NRPA 
Park Pulse poll indicated that their mental health was improved by services offered by local park 
and recreation professionals and agencies. Further, an Oregon State University study found that 
Oregon residents’ engagement in one of 30 outdoor recreation activities in 2018, resulted in a 
savings of $735 million to $1.416 billion accrued to health insurers, providers and participants.
•	
Conservation and resiliency: Park and recreation agencies’ protection of land, water, trees, 
open spaces and wildlife improves air and water quality in communities. Through effective 
land management methods and green infrastructure investments, parks and recreation makes 
communities more resilient to natural disasters, reducing disaster recovery and insurance costs. 
Ninety-three percent of respondents to NRPA’s 2019 Engagement with Parks survey indicated it is 
essential that their local government acquire, construct and maintain local parks, trails and green 
spaces near bodies of water to protect natural resources in their community. Six in seven U.S. 
adults responding to an April 2021 NRPA Park Pulse poll expressed support for their local park and 
recreation agency’s environmental initiatives.
•	
Property values: Economic research has demonstrated consistently that homes and properties 
located near parklands have higher values than those located farther away. Higher home values 
not only benefit the owners of these properties, but also add to the tax base of local governments. 
Four in five respondents to the 2021 Engagement with Parks survey indicated that they seek high-
quality parks and recreation amenities when choosing a place to live. 
•	
Economic development: Parks and recreation improves the quality of life in communities and benefits 
the local economic development of a region. Eighty-two percent of corporate executives responding 
to a 2022 Area Development survey rated quality-of-life features as an important factor when 
choosing a location for a headquarters, factory or other company facility. Further, 94 percent of adults 
responding to the March 2020 NRPA Park Pulse poll expressed support for their local government 
investing in infrastructure improvements that promote economic activity in their community
•	
Visitor spending: Many local park and recreation agency amenities spur tourism to their respective 
locales, generating significant economic activity, including (but not limited to) increased sales at 
local restaurants/bars and hotels. An August 2017 NRPA Park Pulse poll found that people seek 
out park and recreation amenities — such as beaches, parks, trails and secluded and relaxing places 
— when choosing a vacation destination. An August 2021 NRPA Park Pulse poll noted that more 
than nine in 10 U.S. adults find park and recreation summer activities create fond memories.

KEY CONCLUSIONS
Park and recreation professionals at the more than 10,000 agencies across the United States positively 
contribute to their communities in many different ways. Not only are parks leading the way in terms of 
health and wellness, equity, and conservation, but they also drive significant economic activity. 
Local park and recreation agencies generated nearly $218 billion in U.S. economic activity and supported 
almost 1.3 million jobs from their operations and capital spending alone in 2019. Preliminary estimates for 
2020 show that parks and recreation remained resilient in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, with $225 
billion in economic activity and 1.25 million jobs supported. These results, combined with studies on the 
state and national park systems, are proof that public parks are robust engines of economic activity. 
Parks and recreation is a part of a broader outdoor recreation economy. The Bureau of Economic Analysis 
estimates that the outdoor recreation economy represents $374.3 billion of gross domestic product (GDP) 
— or 1.8 percent of the U.S. economy. 
Beyond the impact of their expenditures, park and recreation agencies generate even more economic 
value through their promotion of health and wellness, as well as conservation and resiliency that foster 
higher property values and increase tourism. Critically, park and recreation amenities are the cornerstones 
to improving a locality’s or region’s quality of life — a significant factor in attracting employers and workers 
to an area. 
When combined with the ability to deliver healthier and happier communities, the powerful impact parks 
and recreation has on economic activity highlights the fact that park and recreation agency offerings are 
not merely a “nice-to-have” luxury government service. Instead, parks and recreation transforms our cities, 
towns and counties into vibrant and prosperous communities for all. 
Policymakers and elected officials at all levels of government should take notice and support greater and 
more stable taxpayer funding of parks and recreation. Local park and recreation agencies not only help raise 
the standard of living in our neighborhoods, towns and cities, but they also spark economic activity that can 
have ripple effects well beyond any initial expenditure in creating jobs and prosperity throughout our nation. 
Ashland Park along the Ohio River in Clarksville, Indiana, overlooking the Louisville, Kentucky Skyline. Photo courtesy of Ken Conklin.

This study uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau to estimate operational spending by local park 
systems. The Survey of Public Employment & Payroll offers estimates of agency employment 
and payrolls in 2019, while the Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances provides 
agency operations spending data. Researchers at the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason 
University (GMU) derived its capital spending estimates from reports available from the National 
Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and a review of budget records for dozens of park systems 
selected to reflect a diverse range of localities and park operating characteristics. 
The GMU researchers used the IMPLAN economic input-output model to estimate the total 
economic impacts, often called “economic contributions,” generated by park system operating and 
capital spending. Consistent with previous studies prepared for NRPA, the researchers categorized 
park agency spending as if it were private-sector businesses operating parks, recreation and similar 
entertainment venues. In their judgment, this is more accurate than treating the expenditure as 
general local government spending (i.e., park and recreation agency spending patterns are much 
more like a privately-run entertainment venue than a local tax office).
The researchers adjusted the model inputs to reflect actual compensation paid to park system 
employees, which is often different than what private-sector firms pay its employees. The IMPLAN 
model is the most widely used tool for estimating economic impacts. This model is updated 
frequently to reflect shifts in the structure of the economy; therefore, the results reported here are not 
directly comparable to the findings of previous analyses.
METHODOLOGY 
More than 100 people (kids and adults) came together to create the largest community painted mural in Minnesota. The mural is 30’x30’ 
and represents elements that the children found beautiful in the city. The majority of the mural was painted with one-inch brushes or 
smaller. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Fink, City of New Brighton, Minnesota.

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