A new report from the Trust for Public Land says every dollar cities invest in parks and recreation can generate $3 in local economic benefits each year—alongside health gains, social connection, and climate resilience like reducing neighborhood flooding.
On a warm day. a park can look like a simple thing: families spread out on benches. kids run toward playgrounds. neighbors end up talking in the same orbit. But a new report argues that what communities get from those green spaces isn’t just a nicer street scene. It’s money—real economic lift—plus tangible public health returns.
Americans may disagree loudly on many issues, yet they show strong unity about parks. A recent poll found that 88 percent of Americans visited a park in the past year. Nearly 90 percent of people who voted for Kamala Harris and 80 percent of those who voted for Donald Trump described these spaces as critical infrastructure in their communities.
For elected officials searching for common ground. the report offers another reason to prioritize green space beyond politics: it estimates that for every dollar invested in parks and recreation. communities reap $3 in local economic benefits each year. Will Klein. director of parks research at the Trust for Public Land. tied that value to what parks do in daily life. “You really do get so much goodness out of them,” Klein said. “People are healthier, people connect with each other. They drive business activity, especially for small businesses.”.
The argument is that parks aren’t merely land set aside—they’re a kind of public infrastructure that helps people move. meet. and spend time outside. In a world where many places now carry a price tag. parks and recreation centers offer a rare alternative: a third place where people can gather without paying for entry or membership. “Whereas people must pay a premium to use a gym. they can use a park or rec center for free. ” the report notes.
That access matters for health. The report points to the scale of the problem the country already carries: the United States spends $5.3 trillion annually on health care. and physical inactivity increases the risk of chronic problems like cardiovascular disease. Physical inactivity costs the country more than $200 billion a year. Klein connected park popularity to the everyday choice of getting active outdoors. saying that the “most popular place in America in 2025 to run around and play and exercise are parks and public spaces. ” far more than private gyms. He added that physical activity brings “real health and economic benefits, about $2,000 per person in health care savings each year.”.
Parks also influence mental well-being. Research has shown that simply being among greenery boosts positive well-being. They can foster social interaction and reduce loneliness—a public health crisis of its own. For older adults. the report frames parks as especially important because many people on fixed incomes can’t easily afford other leisure options. Klein described what that looks like on the ground: “There’s movie nights in the park. concerts in the park. ” he said. “Just playing on the playground. talking to neighbors. having barbecues — all that stuff allows people to afford that higher quality of life.”.
Even when a park sits somewhat apart from commercial life, the benefits don’t stay isolated. Crowds drawn to parks can spill into nearby neighborhoods—people buying food and drinks for picnics and visiting mom-and-pop shops and boutiques. Iconic attractions also matter: the report names New York City’s Central Park. Chicago’s Millennium Park. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. and newly minted Sunset Dunes as examples of famous green spaces that draw tourists. For a more specific economic forecast. the Trust for Public Land says the Florida Gulf Coast Trail—a 420-mile greenway the organization is helping develop—will bring $200 million in economic activity in Sarasota County alone by attracting bicyclists and other recreationists.
The report also stresses that the effect can reach residents even if they never step inside the gates. “People want to live near green spaces,” Klein said. That demand, he explained, can increase property values, which supports a broader tax base. Increased property tax revenue can then be reinvested into community benefits.
Of course, there’s a practical friction point: how cities balance housing demand with green space. The report argues the two can exist together, including inside dense areas. Even “affordable complexes can incorporate pocket gardens,” it says, noting that pocket gardens can reduce increasingly unbearable urban temperatures. It adds that some developers are building communities around working farms. known as agrihoods. which bring another benefit: local food production.
Climate adaptation is another place where parks may pay dividends—literally by avoiding costs. As the report puts it. city sewer systems were designed for older rain patterns but are overwhelmed by today’s harder downpours. Parks can help by soaking up some of that water. reducing the amount of water a city has to pay to manage. They also help prevent surrounding neighborhoods from flooding, avoiding property damage.
Taken together. the numbers and the everyday scenes point in the same direction: parks are positioned as a solution that cuts across health. economics. and climate resilience. With Americans already showing broad support—88 percent reporting a past-year visit—and cities seeking investments that deliver measurable returns. green space may look less like an amenity and more like a working piece of urban infrastructure.
Klein summed up the central message in one line: “Parks,” he said, “are actually one of these solutions hiding under the feet of all these local leaders.”
parks local economic benefits Trust for Public Land Will Klein public health physical inactivity mental health loneliness third place property values pocket gardens agrihoods climate adaptation flooding Florida Gulf Coast Trail Sarasota County Central Park Millennium Park Golden Gate Park Sunset Dunes
So they’re basically paying cities to plant trees? Idk.
Ok but is this just on like, warm days when everybody goes outside? The flooding thing sounds nice but where’s the proof it’s directly parks doing that.
I saw something like this before and it’s always $3 per dollar like some magic math. Next they’ll tell us playgrounds cure anxiety or whatever. Also 88% visited a park… people can’t even afford groceries so what are we doing here?
Seems like politicians just found a new slogan. “Critical infrastructure” for parks?? My city already has parks and they’re still sketchy at night, so unless they mean fixing lighting and stuff, I don’t buy the whole $3 thing. And the article said Kamala Trump voters both agree—like what, because they both like grass? I’m confused how they get from “benches” to “local economic benefits each year.”