CITY ARE A SMART INVESTMENT FOR AMERICA’S & HEALTH, & ECONOMY, & ENVIRONMENT

cityparksalliance.org parks play a vital role in the social, economic and physical well-being of America’s and their residents. As cities become more densely populated, and concern about the impact of climate change increases, planners, elected officials, and community advocates are taking a fresh look at parks and their potential to help address critical urban and public health issues. City parks provide access to recreational opportunities, increase property values, spur local economies, combat crime, and protect cities from environmental impacts. Parks are now recognized as powerful tools for urban communities and local economies.

SOURCES 1. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “Chronic 11. Harnik, P. “From Fitness Zones to the Medical Mile: How Urban Systems Can Diseases: The Leading Causes of Death and Disability in the .” August Best Promote Health and Wellness.” Trust for Public Land. 2011. 5. 26, 2015. 12. City Observatory. “City Report – The Young and Restless and the Nation’s Cities.” 2. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Fast Facts on the State of Obesity in America.” October, 2014. 14. September 2014. 13. Crompton, J.L. “The Proximate Principle: The Impact of Parks, Open Space and 3. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Parks, and Health Resources. “Data on Water Features on Residential Property Values and the Property Tax Base.” National Healthy Community Design.” November 2015. Recreation and Park Association. 2004. 13-15. 4. National Institute of Mental Health. “Any Mental Illness (AMI) Among Adults.” n.d. 14. Harnik, P. et al. “Measuring the Economic Value of a City Park System.” Trust for 5. Wolf, K.L., and K. Flora. “Mental Health and Function - A Literature Review.” Public Land. 2009. 1. Green Cities: Good Health. University of Washington, College of the Environment. 15. City Observatory. 2014. 2. December 26, 2010. 16. Harnik, P. “From Fitness Zones to the Medical Mile: How Urban Park Systems Can 6. Coleman, Allison. “Parks: Improving Mental Health and Well-Being.” Parks and Best Promote Health and Wellness.” Trust for Public Land, 2011. 32. Recreation. National Recreation and Park Association. April 1, 2015. 17. Featherstone et al. “Creating a Sustainable City: ’s Green City Clean 7. Oxford Journals, American Journal of Epidemiology. “A Difference-in-Differences Waters Program.” 47th ISOCARP Congress. 2011. 1. 10. Analysis of Health, Safety, and Greening Vacant Urban Space.” July 18, 2011. 18. Nowak, David J., Crane, Daniel E., Stevens, Jack C. “Air pollution removal by urban 8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.) Overweight and Obesity. “Adult trees and shrubs in the United States.” U.S. Forest Service. 2006. Obesity Facts.” June 16, 2015. 19. Sanders, Rex. “Hurricane Sandy: Three Years Later.” USGS. Sound Waves Monthly 9. American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Pro - Professional Resources Online. “Fast Newsletter. Dec. 2015/Jan. 2016. Facts Data and Statistics about Diabetes.” March 2015. Web. 20. Trust for Public Land. “Clean Parks, Clean Water: Making Great Places Using Green 10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Center for Chronic Infrastructure,” Case Studies. Historic Fourth Ward Park Case Study. , GA. n.d. Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, “Heart Disease Fact Sheet.” Feb 19, 2015.

Visit cityparksalliance.org to download info graphics and for usage instructions. City Parks Improve Health and Reduce Costs

PHYSICAL BENEFITS MENTAL BENEFITS COST SAVINGS

affects over Nearly HALF Mental illness The high costs of of all adults in the 43 chronic diseases U.S. have each year in the U.S. chronic health MILLION include: conditions, adults in the U.S. OBESITY such as heart according to the 8 disease, National Institute of $147 BILLION diabetes and obesity.1 Mental Health.4

DIABETES About PARKS SUPPORT $245 BILLION9 1 in 3 MENTAL HEALTH children in the THROUGH PHYSICAL U.S. is either ACTIVITY obese or HEART DISEASE 2 overweight. $108 BILLION10

PARKS HELP TO People with access to REDUCE THE COSTS parks are more likely OF HEALTHCARE People EXERCISE to exercise. Exercise reduces anxiety and depression MORE if they have access and can help alleviate to PARKS and other symptoms of a variety of mental safe outdoor places. Physical health conditions, including activity can reduce or prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s.5, 6 serious health problems.3 Maintaining a healthy COMMUNITY weight saves BENEFITS $1,500 per person Greening of vacant urban in healthcare costs a year.11 land has been shown to decrease crime.7

cityparksalliance.org City Parks Provide Economic Benefits

PARKS ATTRACT PARKS INCREASE PARKS LOWER RESIDENTS AND REVENUE FOR CITIES INFRASTRUCTURE BUSINESSES Property tax is one of the most COSTS FOR CITIES important revenue streams for Cities are creating and using cities. Cities receive an increase parks as a green infrastructure +50% in property tax revenue from approach to managing people moving stormwater and preventing back to flooding. the cities.

Nashville’s investment in downtown parks has contributed to a 50% increase in the number of 25 to 34 year Since 2000, the number of olds with college degrees young, educated adults moving moving to the city over the last to livable, walkable urban decade.12 neighborhoods has increased 15 GRAY GREEN PARKS INCREASE 37%. INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE PROPERTY VALUES $16 $2 PARKS SPUR PRIVATE BILLION BILLION INVESTMENT, INCREASE JOB Philadelphia is saving OPPORTUNITIES +5–20% $14 BILLION In Denver, $1.2 million in federal by managing storm water and near parks or trails have park grants galvanized over $2.5 preventing flooding with parks 5–20% higher property values billion in local public and private and green infrastructure instead 16 than those in the surrounding investments. of new pipes and .17 13, 14 community. $1.2 $2.5 MILLION BILLION

cityparksalliance.org City Parks Provide Environmental Benefits

PARKS CLEAN PARKS CLEAN PARKS MAKE CITIES THE AIR THE WATER MORE RESILIENT Parks and green space filter rain Nationwide cities are confronted which reduces water pollution, with the impacts of climate protects drinking water and change and increased flooding.19 decreases rates of Hurricane Sandy caused up to waterborne illness. $70 BILLION Parks improve in damages to communities. environmental health PARKS SAVE Trees in urban parks remove and save toxins from the air, such as communities MONEY ON carbon monoxide, that can pose money. INFRASTRUCTURE serious health risks Cities are creating and using to people. parks as a green infrastructure approach to managing stormwater and preventing PARKS PROVIDE $ $3.8 BILLION IN flooding. AIR POLLUTION SAVINGS PARKS KEEP CITIES Urban trees in the U.S. remove COOLER Parks help to cool cities by 711,000 TONS reducing the heat island effect. of air pollution annually, at a value of $3.8 GRAY GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE BILLION not only saving money $40 $24 but also improving public health.18 MILLION MILLION

Using just one park and investing in green infrastructure instead of gray infrastructure, the City of Atlanta is saving at least 20 $16 MILLION

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