March 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 15

and retain business as it improves the quality of life in communities. A recent NRPA study of public officials (www.nrpa.org/
localofficials) finds that economic development is their chief concern, but it also is something to which they typically do not see
parks and recreation as being a critical contributor. This represents
a perception gap, as quality of life is a key factor for regions in
their efforts to recruit and retain both business and high-quality
workers. Later this spring, NRPA will be releasing another study
conducted by the researchers at George Mason University's Center
for Regional Analysis that takes a closer look at how park and recreation agencies and their leaders are playing an active role in their
communities' economic development activity.

...local park and recreation agencies were
responsible for more than $154 billion in

US Patent D785,269 S.

economic activity and just over 1.1 million
jobs in 2015.
Policymakers and elected officials at all levels of government
should take notice and support greater and more stable taxpayer funding for parks and recreation. Local park and recreation
agencies not only help raise the standard of living in our neighborhoods, towns and cities, but they also spark economic activity that can have ripple effects well beyond the initial expenditure by creating jobs and prosperity throughout our nation.
I encourage you to read the full report included with this issue
of Parks & Recreation magazine, but do not let it stop there. Share
the report - also available at www.nrpa.org/parkeconreport -
with key stakeholders in your city, town or county. It is critical
for your local government officials, business leaders, the media
and the public to appreciate that parks and recreation not only is
a vital resource that improves our communities through health
and wellness, conservation and social equity, but also drives economic activity. Your work and that of 370,000 professionals in
our industry make these communities flourish for all.
Also, soon the NRPA research team will be able to provide an
estimate of a park and recreation agency's economic impact from
its spending. With this new tool, park and recreation professionals
can share a similar message about their own agency's spending.
Look for more information about this new member benefit in an
upcoming issue of Parks & Recreation magazine.

Brains. Beauty.
Choose both. Our Relay technology
continuously monitors ﬁll level and weight,
sending a spike alert that indicates
unusual ﬁll level change and when the spike
occurred. It's valuable data that can help
you stop residential dumping and overﬂow.
Efﬁciency is a beautiful thing.

V ICTOR STA N L EY.COM

Kevin Roth, Ph.D., is NRPA's Vice President of
Research (kroth@nrpa.org).

W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | M A R C H 2 0 1 8 |

Parks & Recreation

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March 2018 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2018 - Parks & Recreation
