Report Says Spending on Parks Yields Huge Return for State

A new study says Tennessee Parks produce a massive return on state spending. For every dollar the state puts toward parks, the study says it gets some 17 times that amount back in economic impact.

Professor Mark Fly, of the University of Tennessee, helped author the study, based on a survey of 1,100 state residents. He says when it comes to funding parks, the state gets an unbelievable bang for its buck.

“They put in about $40, 41 million a year from the general fund into state parks. So for every dollar that the state puts in, they get $17 back in direct expenditures.”

That totals some $700 million in annual return.

Fly says that makes parks a significant driver of employment, particularly in rural areas. And he says the study shows the state would do well to keep investing in parks.

EXTRA:

Link to the study here.

As lawmakers put together a spending plan for the state, Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke says he hopes they’ll take note of the study.

You can hear from the commissioner below.

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