Research shows parks are important to Americans
A recently released report from the National Recreation and Park Association shows that most U.S. adults — 82 percent of them — believe that parks and recreation are essential services.
The 2020 Engagement with Parks Report is based on a survey of 1,000 American adults 18 and older. It also found that during the pandemic, 3 in 5 U.S. residents have visited a park, trail, public open space or other recreation facility at least once during the first three months of the pandemic. More than half of U.S. residents maintained or increased their park, trail and open space use during those same months. On average, U.S. adults visit local park and recreation facilities more than twice a month on average.
The report also found that 72 percent of U.S. adults are more likely to vote for political leaders who make park and recreation funding a priority, and that 77 percent of U.S. adults consider having a high-quality park, playground, public open space or recreation center nearby an important factor in deciding where they want to live.
The NRPA Research Department publishes the Engagement with Parks Report each fall, and it’s available online at www.nrpa.org/publications-research/research-papers/engagement.
