Local parks are often the centerpiece of life to modern communities. They are a source of economic vitality for those communities, and are frequently the reason families and industries choose to locate there. Parks are increasingly important to attracting certain types of desirable corporate locations, particularly those involving high numbers of knowledge workers. Local Parks increase local tax revenue due to tourism and special events, enhance property values and improve the quality of life for citizens in their communities.Local parks are the primary venue for the expenditure of families’ recreational budgets for sporting goods, a huge industry in Texas. Retail sales of recreation equipment in Texas totals well over $1.5 billion each year.
A study by the Texas economists at The Perryman Group concluded that “Every county and metropolitan area in the state benefits from the presence of local parks, and expenditures to support them represent a good investment of tax dollars.” Many other studies demonstrate the value added to the local and state economies by the presence of parks and recreation facilities.
As evidence of the role local parks play in the economic engine of Texas’ prosperous communities, consider the following:
- Property values increase 20% abutting a passive park area (Perryman Group).
- Over 38,000 jobs are created from business activity related to local parks (Perryman Group).
- Local parks across the state lead to the creation of 45,623 jobs through their maintenance and operations activity, capital investment and direct tourism (Perryman Group).
- The incremental net fiscal revenue to the State government from local parks activity is approximately $171.6 million per year (Perryman Group).
- Some local parks are tourist destinations, and others enjoy sporadic inflows of tourists for sporting events, festivals, and other activities. In a typical year, the tourism effects of local parks lead to gains in business activity across the state including $1.502 billion in spending and 11,331 jobs. (Perryman Group).
