Economic Impacts of Parks, Rivers, Trails and Greenways

o $60 million in Harris County, TX, for acquisition and development of parks(LTA, 2002).Table 24. Percent and Value of Ballot Measures ApprovedYear Measures approved New funding1998 126 of 150 (84%) $8.3 billion1999 92 of 102 (90%) $1.8 billion2000 174 of 209 (83%) $7.5 billion2001 137 of the 196 (70%) $1.7 billionSixty-seven of Oregon voters chose to set aside $45 million from state lottery proceedsto purchase river corridors, watersheds and wetlands, and native salmon habitat in 1998(TPL, 1999).In 1995 voters in Larimer County, CO passed an eight-year, 1/4 cent “Help PreserveOpen Spaces” sales tax, which yielded over $18 million. The money is used for thepurchase of land or development rights so that open lands can be preserved and farmsand ranches can be kept in agricultural use (TPL, 1999).Between 1961-1995 New Jersey voters approved nine open space bond acts, whichraised $1.4 billion for New Jersey’s Green Acres land acquisition program. In 1998,New Jersey voters also approved a referendum that created a stable source of fundingfor open space, farmland, and historic preservation and recreation development (NJDept of Environmental Protection, 2002).3.3.9 How to Use These Rationales in Your CommunityDemonstrate how leisure and recreation expenditures are important in your state,region, or community. Cite some of the examples given to show how people valuerecreation and open space opportunities. Gather similar information for your state, region,or community and present them at meetings and in publications. Take advantage of localuniversities that may be able to provide expertise on gathering such information.Quote the above examples to show how park- and trail-related expenditures areimportant to other economies. The examples provided focus upon a variety of aspects ofhow recreation/open space expenditures support local, regional, state, and nationaleconomies. If appropriate, local examples can be found and listed. Choose the activitiesmost relevant to your planning area; the size of the economy, and the type of impact.Recognize the multiplier effect of park expenditures. The effect of spending related toparks and trails is multiplied as local businesses patronized by park users purchase suppliesand services from manufacturers and other businesses. This concept is further discussed inSection 3.5, Estimating the Effects of Spending, under the subsections “Direct, Indirect andInduced Effects” and “Multipliers.”Compare the economic effects of the park or trail to those of another facility orprogram. Compare the number of jobs supported or created by your park to those47