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Americans
Support Increased
Local
Funding for Parks and Recreation
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Findings Published
in NRPA�s
Annual Americans�
Engagement with Parks Survey Report
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Ashburn,
VA � October 2016 / Newsmaker Alert / According
to a new report issued by
the National Recreation and Park Association
(NRPA), a network of more than 52,000 park and recreation advocates, Americans�
support for local parks and recreation is strong. The report highlights
NRPA�s 2016 Americans� Engagement
with Parks Survey that found the majority of Americans agree parks
and recreation are important services delivered by local government � offering
that funding for local parks and recreation agencies should be increased.
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Public
parks and recreation centers offer a wide range of community-based services
that include opportunities for people of all ages to be physically active,
connect with nature, and gather with family and friends. To better understand
Americans� use of local park and recreation facilities and their willingness
to fund these resources, NRPA issued a survey to 1,000 Americans ages 18+.
The survey found that:
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Americans
on average visit their local park and recreation facilities approximately
29 times a year with millennials and parents frequenting parks the most
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Nine in
10 Americans agree that parks and recreation are important services delivered
by their local government
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Three
in four Americans agree that NRPA�s three pillars of Conservation, Health
and Wellness, and Social Equity represent what they see as priorities for
their local park and recreation agency
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Seven
in 10 Americans say they are more likely to vote for local politicians
who make park and recreation funding a priority
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Three-quarters
of Americans support increased local government spending for park and recreation
agencies with solid support for a nearly 30 percent local government funding
increase for parks and recreation
�This
new report confirms the fact that Americans value the services offered
by their local park and recreation agencies,� said Barbara Tulipane, NRPA
President and CEO. �I encourage our members and advocates to use these
results as a way to push for additional funding and resources in the communities
they serve � doing so will make a positive impact on the lives of many
supportive citizens.�
Americans�
support for public parks and recreation is well established. A report released
earlier this year found that Americans almost unanimously agree that their
communities benefit from their local public parks, even if they themselves
are not regular park users. The report also showed that support for local
parks is widespread, spanning different age groups, income strata, household
types and political affiliations.
The
Americans� Engagement with Parks Survey is a new annual research series
from NRPA that tracks the general public�s interaction with and support
for public parks. The survey results provide park and recreation professionals,
policymakers and other key stakeholders with insights on the importance
local parks and recreation facilities play in lives of all Americans. The
NRPA Research Department will release new results from the Americans� Engagement
with Parks Survey each fall.
To
read NRPA�s Americans� Engagement with Parks report, click
here.
About
The National Recreation and Park Association
The
National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization
dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance
quality of life for all people. Through its network of more than 50,000
recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion
of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable
access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org.
For digital access to NRPA�s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation,
visit www.parksandrecreation.org.
Media
Contact:
Heather
Williams
Senior
Manager of Public Relations
703-858-4743
National
Recreation and Park Association |
