categories. We were able to articulate data in a way that allowed us to speak to local policymakers in a way we hadn’t been able to before.” Adding Up Billions in Benefits The three sections of TPL’s report—human health, nature’s services, and economic impact—outline billions of dollars in benefits and savings that New York City parks give residents, businesses, and visitors each year. Some of the most impressive figures include the $9.1 billion in recreational value, $2.43 billion in avoided stormwater treatment costs, and $17.9 billion in tourism spending that the New York City park system generates. “Even though we believe these values are present in our work, we’re always a little blown away by the valuations we find in some of these reports. Billions of dollars are reflected in the work of conservation. It’s a lot more than people would imagine, in terms of environmental services and economic impact,” Hannon said. For policymakers, the report is timely. The passage of the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, and the introduction of the Community Parks Revitalization Act in 2022 show that parks are a national priority. Communities are well-positioned to use federal funding to reduce the effects of climate change, improve collective health, and boost their local economies by maintaining and creating parks. The TPL report provides a framework that TPL will replicate elsewhere to quantify the vast potential benefits of parks as well as inspire imagination and motivation to continue and expand park funding. Because the report’s analysis was limited to the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, 56 The Target Market Summary for New York City looks at the demographics of city residents. Cover of the report, The Economic Benefits of Parks in New York City.
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