The
Benefits of Accessible, Well-Maintained Parks, Open Space and
Historic Sites
Every New Jersey resident deserves well-maintained, accessible
neighborhood parks, natural areas and historic sites to enjoy
with their families. These areas provide opportunities for recreation,
education and economic development and are essential to the health
of communities throughout New Jersey.
Protecting the Environment – Preserving
open space safeguards our public water supply and water quality
in our rivers and streams. Parks and natural areas also significantly
improve air and provide important habitat for wildlife.
Urban Revitalization – Creating and maintaining
urban park and natural areas is a critical component of any urban
revitalization strategy. Parks create a high quality of life that
attracts taxpaying businesses and residents and redirects growth
back into urban areas.
Economic Development – Parks support the
growth of our state and local economies by enhancing property
values; increasing revenue from property taxes and additional
retail and tourism activity; and attracting new industries and
skilled workers to communities across the state.
Quality of Life for Our Children – As
New Jersey continues to develop, parks and natural areas will
be increasingly critical not only as places recreation, but also
as investments in our families and communities.
Public Health – Our parks and natural
areas provide opportunities for hiking, jogging and other physical
activity, which increases fitness and reduces obesity. These areas
also reduce air and water pollution impacts on public health.
A Wise Investment – Investing in our parks
and natural areas protects New Jersey’s $3.9 billion wildlife-related
recreation industry. Each year, fishing, hunting and wildlife-watching
activities create over 37,000 jobs and generate nearly $150 million
in sales tax revenue. In fact, one in three residents participates
in wildlife-related recreation.
Useful Documents to Download
Tracking
New Jersey's Dynamic Landscape: A Municipal Report Card on Urban
Growth and Open Space Loss
This on going project conducted by Rutgers
University Director Richard G. Lathrop, Ph.D. and Rowan University's
John Hasse Ph.D., tracts the loss of open space and changes in
development throughout the State of New Jersey.
Valuing
New Jersey's Natural Capital: An Assessment of the Economic Value
of the State's Natural Resources (April 2007)
Released by the New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection, this report uses a comprehensive
method of determing the economic value of our lands per acre in
ecosystem servcies in both goods and services throughout the State.
The Economic
Impacts of Wildlife-Related Recreation in New Jersey (2006)
This fact sheet produced by the Outdoor Recreation Alliance provides
information on the economic benefits of New Jersey’s $3.9
billion hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching industry.
How
Cities Use Parks for Economic Development
This APA briefing paper provides information about the economic
benefits of high-quality neighborhood parks.
Open
Space Is A Good Investment - The Financial Argument for Open Space
Preservation (2004)
Published by the Association of New Jersey
Environmental Commissions(ANJEC), this report outlines the various
economic benefits to preserving open space and natural areas.
The Public
Value of Urban Parks (2004)
One in a series of papers entitled “Beyond Recreation: A
Broader View of Urban Parks,” this paper calls attention
to the contribution parks make to the vitality of communities
and their residents.
Understanding
Park Usership (2004)
This paper discusses the benefits of and approaches to conducting
park usership surveys.
New Jersey
State Parks and Forests Economic Benefits and Vital Statistics
(2004)
A New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection fact sheet,
created in June 2004.
The Economic
Value of New Jersey State and Forests (2004)
This New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection report
provides the background information used to create the above fact
sheet.
Outdoor
Recreation Participation Study (2006)
This study by the Outdoor Industry Foundation provides an outdoor
recreation trend analysis for the United States, including specific
information about New Jersey.
Birding
in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis (2001)
This report is an addendum to the 2001 Survey of Fishing, Hunting
and Wildlife-Association Recreation Report.
2001
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation:
New Jersey
This survey published by the USFWS provides statistics on wildlife-related
recreation in New Jersey.
The
Opportunity for Agritourism Development in New Jersey (2006)
A report prepared for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture
by the Food Policy Institute at Rutgers University.
Banking on Nature 2006: The Economic Benefits of National Wildlife Refuge Visitation to Local Communities (Executive Summary)
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