The Impact of Parks in Our Communities
Parks are more than just green spaces—they are essential to the health and well-being of our communities. They provide opportunities for recreation, foster social connections, and promote environmental stewardship. As cities continue to expand, the need for accessible and diverse outdoor spaces becomes even more crucial, ensuring that everyone can enjoy nature, stay active, and build a stronger community together.
From our Executive Director
Lisa Nye, Indiana Park and Recreation Association
Welcome to the IPRA Indiana Parks Impact Study Report
In 2022, the IPRA Board recognized the need for stronger tools to help educate citizens and public officials about the vital role parks play in enhancing the quality of life in our communities. To address this, they formed a Public Awareness Campaign Steering Committee and hired a consultant to engage IPRA members through focus groups. The goal was to identify the data and resources needed to better communicate the importance of parks.
In 2023, The Polis Center at Indiana University, Indianapolis, was selected to develop credible, research-based data, compelling visualizations, and cohesive branding to support this effort. The result of their work is presented in the enclosed IPRA Parks Impact Study Report.
Read the full report here:
85% agreed that their local parks positively impacted the quality of their community.
Parks Impact People
Nearly 91% of respondents surveyed agreed that visiting parks positively impacted their mental health.
77% agreed that visiting a park improved their social health
87% reported a positive impact on their physical health
72% of people aged 30-49 go to parks with their children
Individuals aged 50-69 were most likely to go to parks alone or with pets
The great outdoors doesn’t just impact you—it fuels our economy too! Indiana outdoor recreation economy added $15.7 billion to Indiana's GPD in 2023
Approximately 105,000 Hoosiers work in parks. This helps the economy by generating wages, supporting local businesses, and boosting tourism through recreation spending. Parks also drive infrastructure investments, create construction and maintenance jobs, and provide environmental and health benefits that lower healthcare costs and improve productivity.
Parks help fuel the economy
Any form of green space—from tiny vertical gardens to expansive urban forests—helps cool the environment and improve air quality.
Parks can be part of the climate solution through….
COOLING - Trees reduce temperatures by provide shade for the earth, plants, animals, and humans
ABSORBING - Trees, shrubs, and plants help absorb pollution and improve air quality by filtering the air
PROTECTING - Parks protect people and infrastructure from increasingly
severe storms, sea-level rise, heat waves and droughts
CONNECTING - Animals, birds, and insects alike connect to greenspaces for sources of food, shelter and water.
