en.Wedoany.com Reported - A new report from the Trust for Public Land shows that for every $1 invested in parks and recreation facilities in U.S. cities, communities receive $3 in annual local economic benefits. Will Klein, director of park research, stated that parks provide multiple benefits, including health, social, and economic advantages.
A recent poll found that 88% of Americans have visited a park in the past year, with nearly 90% of Kamala Harris voters and 80% of Donald Trump voters considering parks as key community infrastructure. The report notes that physical inactivity costs the U.S. over $200 billion annually, while parks, as free public spaces, provide venues for exercise, saving individuals approximately $2,000 per year in healthcare costs. Parks are also regarded as a crucial "third space"—gathering places outside of work and home—that promote social interaction and reduce loneliness.
Beyond health benefits, parks also generate direct economic value. They attract people who flow into surrounding communities, boosting commercial activities such as dining and retail. For example, the Florida Gulf Coast Trail, a 420-mile greenway, generates $200 million in economic activity for Sarasota County solely by attracting cyclists and recreational enthusiasts. Parks also increase surrounding property values, expanding the city's tax base, and the additional property tax revenue can be reinvested in community benefits.
Even in the densest urban areas, affordable housing complexes can include pocket gardens, which also offer the added benefit of lowering urban temperatures. Some developers are building communities around working farms, known as "agrihoods," to promote local food production. Additionally, parks help cities adapt to more intense rainfall by absorbing stormwater, reducing pressure on sewer systems and flood risks.
Klein believes that parks are a solution that can simultaneously improve mental health, help cities adapt to climate change, and stimulate economic activity—hidden right under the feet of local leaders everywhere.
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