City park use up in weak economy

Playing closer to home

Wendy Natt, Aug 21, 09.

City parks are getting more use in difficult financial times, according to a recent survey by the Trust for Public Land (TPL). The poll results indicate that one in five park users in the US have increased their visits to local parks and playgrounds, and one in three families have done the same during the current economic downturn.

Park use has also remained consistent among those who used parks regularly prior to the recession, with over 70 percent saying that they use parks just as frequently now as they did before.

Peter Harnik, Director of TPL’s Center for City Park Excellence says that the poll results “underscore the importance of maintaining and enhancing parks and playgrounds in cities, even during tough times.”

The survey results were released by TPL in conjunction with a detailed statistical report on the acreage and facilities on offer within the nation’s 77 largest city park systems. TPL’s city parks blog provides a few totals from this study:

Big-city park departments last year offered 56 million urban residents 10,419 park playgrounds, 1,290 swimming pools, 466 dog parks, and 386 public golf courses, while spending $5.7 billion on their park and recreation systems.

See the full City Park Facts 2009 Report and the full poll results.

(Photo credit: cybertoad)