Economic Impact

There is a positive relationship between park proximity and residential property value when parks/open space are well maintained and secure, including in low income urban areas and at the edges of urban areas.

Parks can revive demand for space in neighboring office buildings, and commercial asking rents, residential sale prices and assessed values for properties are positively effected when near a well-improved park.

Overall quality of life and livability, including recreation opportunities, are important factors in the decision by businesses on location—if people want to live in a place, companies, stores, hotels, homes and apartments will follow.

Parks can serve as a city's signature attractions, prime marketing tools to attract tourists, conventions and businesses, helping to shape city identity and give residents pride of place.

Organized events held in public parks—art festivals, athletic events, food festivals, musical and theatrical events—often bring substantial positive economic impacts to their communities, filling hotel rooms and restaurants and bringing customers to local stores. (Sherer, 2003)

School Districts receive economic value from contribution of City resources in partnerships for facility development and programming for students and the general public.

Information Sources

ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES

"How Cities Use Parks to Improve Public Health, Help Children Learn, Create Safer Neighborhoods." City Parks Forum Briefing Papers, American Planning Association. 2003.

"Why America Needs More City Parks and Open Space." By Sherer, Paul M. The Trust for Public Land White Paper. 2003.

"Extracurricular Activities and Adolescent Development." By Eccles, Jaquelynne S.; Barber, Bonnie L.; Stone, Margaret; Hunt, James. Journal of Social Issues, Volume 59, No. 4. pp.865-889. December 2003.

"The Influence of Motor Skill Interventions on Disadvantaged Children." By Ishee, Jimmy H.. The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Volume 74, Issue 8. p14. October 2003.

"Leisure as a Coping Resource: Variations in Coping with Traumatic Injury and Illness." By Hutchinson, Susan L.; Loy, David P.; Kleiber, Douglas A.; Dattilo, John. Leisure Sciences, 25: pp.143-161. April 2003.

"Community Programs to Promote Youth Development." By The Committee on Community-Level Programs for Youth, Board on Children, Youth and Families. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. 2002.

"Play: Essential for All Children." By Isenberg, Joan Packer; Quisenberry, Nancy. A Position Paper of the Association for Childhood Education International. 2002.

"Leisure as a Resource in Transcending Negative Life Events: Self-Protection, Self-Restoration, and Personal Transformation." By Kleiber, Douglas A.; Hutchinson, Susan L.; Williams, Richard. Leisure Sciences, 24: pp.219-235. April 2002.

"The Role of Leisure in Women's Experiences of Menopause and Mid-Life." By Parry, Diana C.; Shaw, Susan M.. Leisure Sciences, 21: pp. 205-218. July 1999.

"The Relationship Between Stress, Health, and Physically Active Leisure as a Function of Life-Cycle." By Zuzanek, Jiri; Robinson, John P.; Iwaski, Yoshi. Leisure Sciences, 20: pp.253-275. October-December 1998.

"Longitudinal Analyses of the Relationships Among Life Transitions, Chronic Health Problems, Leisure, and Psychological Well Being." By Iwasaki, Yoshi; Smale Bryan J. A.. Leisure Sciences, 20: pp.25-52. January-March 1998.

"Helping Youth Grow." By Hudson, Susan D.. The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Volume 68, Issue 9. pp.16-17. Nov/Dec 1997.

"Leisure and Identity Formation in Male and Female Adolescents: A Preliminary Examination." By Shaw, Susan; Klieber, Douglas A.; Caldwell, Linda L.. Journal of Leisure Research, Volume 27, No. 3. pp.245-263. 1995.

"The Dialectics of Leisure and Development for Women and Men in Mid-Life: An Interpretive Study." By Freysinger, Valeria. Journal of Leisure Research, Volume 27, No. 1. pp.61-84. 1995.

"Starting, Ceasing, and Replacing Leisure Activities Over the Life-Span." By Iso-Ahola, Seppo E.; Jackson, Edgar. Journal of Leisure Research, Volume 26, No. 3. pp.227-249. 1994

"An Examination of the Life Satisfaction and Importance of Leisure in the Lives of Older Female Retirees: A Comparison of Blacks to Whites." By Riddick, Carol Cutler; Stewart, Debra Gonder. Journal of Leisure Research, Volume 26, No.1. pp. 75-87. 1994.

"The Preschool Playground." By Sawyers, Janet K.. The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Volume 65, Issue 6. p.32-33. August 1994.

"Leisure and Health: The Role of Social Support and Self-Determination." By Coleman, Denis; Iso-Ahola, Seppo E.. Journal of Leisure Research, Volume 25, No. 2. pp.111-128. 1993.

Sacramento START Annual Evaluation Report 2002/2003. Minicucci Associates. November 2003. (Website: www.sacstart.org)