Parks and Green Spaces Generate Outsized ROI

While parks have long been viewed as ‘nice to haves’ by policymakers, every $1 invested in parks and recreation generates at least $3 in local economic benefits every year. This critical insight comes from The Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore - the national gold-standard comparison of park systems across the 100 most populous cities in the United States. This stems from reduced stormwater treatment costs; lower healthcare costs; improved public health outcomes; consumer savings on fitness and recreation; rising tax revenues, and a boost in public-private partnerships, among other things.

While the surge of COVID-era federal parks investment has nearly wound down, 73% of ParkScore cities say they’re already feeling or anticipate negative impacts from federal funding cuts. Investments made in parks are as essential to a community’s livability as street cleaning, wastewater treatment, roads, libraries, and law enforcement. 

A thriving natural world is one of the eight Vital Conditions for health and well-being that all communities need to thrive, and parks act as multi-solvers – improving physical and mental health, increasing neighborhood safety and bolstering economic development.  

The data shared in the report sends strong message to municipal policymakers and elected officials to support park investments. Healthy Communities Delaware, as part of a funder network, has supported a number of park revitalizations, and invites funders to contribute to this work statewide. 

Read The Undeniable ROI of Community Parks and Green Spaces report to learn more about how parks are a necessary and valuable component of a thriving city.