MARKET FOR OPEN SPACE

Blanding, Cindy. August 1994. "The Changing Face of Outdoor Enthusiasts." Parks and Recreation.

"By the year 2000, nearly 15% of the population will be 65 years or older; but this older population will be unlike any that has gone before it. Physically and cognitively active lifestyles are becoming the norm for older adults."

"Participation in outdoor recreation activities affords older adults many benefits. It allows them new experiences in new places, stimulates new interests, and is physically, mentally, and emotionally stimulating. It also helps them get in touch with themselves and with nature and enhances their understanding of their place in nature and awakens senses. opportunities for development of self-image and self-confidence, cooperation and trust, and physical fitness are also provided. These benefits often are only realized through recreation participation in a natural environment, and older adults are seeking these benefits along with the enjoyment the outdoors provide in increasing numbers."

Crompton, John L. 1993. "Repositioning Recreation and Park Services: An Overview." In Trends: Justifying Recreation and Parks to Decision Makers. v. 30, no. 4.

"Each year more than 250,000 Americans retire and move to another state. Retirees have become an attractive economic development target for communities. Retirees look for a desired retirement style, and studies have consistently reported that recreation and park facilities and programs are one of the deciding factors in retirees choosing a new location at which to reside."

Backman, Sheila J. and Kenneth F. Backman. 1993. "The Role of Park and Recreation Services in Retiree Relocation Decisions." In Trends: Justifying Recreation and Parks to Decision Makers. v. 30, no. 4.

"retiree migrants were estimated to have produced an after-tax income of over $15 billion from 1975-1980. In addition, the income of retiree migrants tends to be more stable than worker incomes since much of retirement income comes from social security, military, civil service, state, and local and private pension funds."

"the availability and diversity of recreation opportunities is a key decision factor in most retiree relocation decisions. recreation opportunities are of primary importance to retirees contemplating relocation."

"Retirees begin 'shopping around' and their tourist-like behavior during their decision process results in tourist dollars. Most retirees have visited the areas they move to at least once on a vacation and in most cases visit these potential retirement areas numerous times."

"When considering a move, studies of immigrant retirees in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Massachusetts and South Carolina all found recreation and park facilities to be one of the deciding factors in choosing their new area of residence."

"The private developers of retirement housing have quickly identified the importance of recreation and park facilities and programs to the financial success of their developments. Naturally, their advertisements target these quality-of-life benefits. Potential buyers are inundated with glossy ads and videos depicting lush golf courses, sparkling tennis courts, fancy riding stables, crystal blue pools and pristine walking trails as well as the prominent activities and programs offered by the area's public recreation and parks agencies. these amenities are up front and center stage"

Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. 1995. Economic Impacts of Protecting Rivers, Trails, and Greenway Corridors., Department of the Interior. National Park Service, Western Region, San Francisco, California.

"Bicycling attracts people of all ages and interest in this activity is retained from childhood into later years. With the aging of the U.S. population, bicycling will likely retain its popularity as a 'lifetime' activity. In the United States, the rate of participation in bicycling triples since the early 1960's. By the end of 1993, there were more than 100 million bicyclists in the United States. This represents an increase of over 33 percent in the last ten years (Bicycle Federation of America, 1994). Bicycles are used for commuting to work as well as pleasure and fitness. There were 2.7 million bicycle commuters in the U.S. in 1987, more than double the number in 1982."

"In-line skating has also become extremely popular in the U.S. in just the past few years. from 1991 to 1993 participation in the sport increased from approximately 6 million to 12.5 million in the U.S. (NSGA, 1994). In 1993, 4.6 million pair of skates were sold, generating $310 million (Sports Style Magazine, 1993). The industry estimates a 30 percent increase in skates sold and dollars generated in 1994."

Urban Land. December 1994. "Oriole Park at Camden Yards."

Regarding the new ballpark built in downtown Baltimore:

"The ballpark's location and orientation reinforce its connection to the city and helped revitalize a downtrodden area of Baltimore. Previously, the 85-acre site consisted of deteriorating industrial buildings and warehouses, many of which were abandoned. The stadium has breathed new life into the area and enhanced the development potential of nearby sites."

Wade, Beth. February 1994. "The Economic Poop on Municipal Zoos." American City and County.

"Directors attest that well-run zoos are excellent marketing tools for the city, with economic benefits that include job growth and community revitalization. But the rewards are often long in coming and they are costly.

'Historically, zoos have never been looked upon as money makers,' says Rich Buickerhood, director of the Dallas Zoo. 'But the zoo can be an economic stimulus and one of the key drivers for the city.'"

According to Pat Simmons, president and chief executive officer of the non-profit society that manages Akron, Ohio's zoo, "the zoo is not a source of income in direct dollars to the cityit contributes to the economics of the community. We draw more people than any other like entity (i.e., non-profit attractions like museums and historical sites). The fact that we are in the inner city means that more people are coming into the city. We augment downtown revitalization."

"Grant Park, the neighborhood surrounding Zoo Atlanta, is being revitalized. (The zoo will) bring a lot of people to Grant Park. They're spending money in the community again." Terry Maple, president and chief executive officer of Zoo Atlanta's non-profit management group.

Fresno (City of) Little Hoover Commission. March 1992. "Report of the City of Fresno Little Hoover Commission to the Fresno City Council: Land Acquisition and Recreational Facilities."

"From 1965 (when the original acreage for the park was purchased) to 1974, land prices increased approximately 400%, from $1,600 per acre in 1965 to $6,350 per acre in 1974, or, without compounding, an average nominal increase of 44% per year. Park land for a regional park could have been acquired at that site five years ago (in 1990) at $5,000 per acre. Today (1992) the price for the same land would be approximately $10,000 to $15,000 per acre a nominal 20-30% increase in the price of the land.

The penalty incurred to date for not having acquired this 1,000 acre five years ago, if the relatively low cost riverbottom land was the acquisition site, would be approximately $5,000,000 to $10,000,000. the economics of land banking for the city's park land needs, due to the population growth of the next decade alone, would substantially increase the projected savings from this strategy. Similarly, neighborhood and community park land cost can be substantially reduced by current land banking; this is well illustrated by the 50 acre acquisition at Woodland Park."

Hauserman, Julie. "Green Infrastructure." Landscape Architecture. v. 85, no. 7.

"The old Cross-Florida Barge Canal corridor has become the 110-mile long Cross-Florida Greenway State Recreation and Conservation Area, the centerpiece in Florida's planned greenways system. IN one of the most far-reaching 'greening' efforts in the nation, public and private interests envision a 'green infrastructure' for Florida, an undertaking as carefully planned and managed as the state's highway system.

It is a series of ecological and cultural 'hubs,' connected by multiuse 'spokes' and 'corridors' stretching from Miami to Pensacola.

When public lands are linked together, you get more bang for your conservation buck and fractured planning efforts are organized into a cohesive whole, says Mark Benedict, director of the Florida Greenways program, a project of the Conservation Fund and 1000 Friends of Florida, a growth-management watchdog group."

"For Florida's 150th birthday this year, the state will recognize 150 greenways that will link the state's various ecosystems, providing habitat for the native flora and fauna, which are under siege from development. The planning work has been financed with both public and private dollars -- mostly private. More than $1 million will come from the Intermodal Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). Greenways have won institutional support, as well, with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection setting up an Office of Greenways & Trails. Nearly every state agency - including the departments of Commerce and Transportation - has signed off on the 'green infrastructure' idea.

Florida has a lot of greenways opportunities emerging,' says Chuck Flink, ASLA, of North Carolina-based Greenways, Inc. 'It's a natural evolution in a state which has the types of problems that Florida has -- population growth, the economic impacts of that growth, struggling traditional agricultural industries. The Florida landscape continues to be a major draw for people throughout the world. They want to see these native landscapes. Going to Disney isn't the same.'"

"As population growth continues, 'greenways may be the saving grace for Florida,' says Nathaniel Pryor Reed, a Florida environmentalist who cochaired the Florida Greenways Commission. 'If we're going to add four million people to Florida in the next ten years, we are going to have to have greenway corridors in every community. We need that green infrastructure to survive.'"

Myers, Phyllis. January 19, 1996. "The Once and Future Market for State and Local Parks." State Resource Strategies.

"Highlights:

- The state grants portion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, once seen as the mainstay of state and local capital spending on parks and recreation, was drastically cut in the early 1980's and never recovered. Now zeroed out, these grants totaled $3.5 billion between 1965 and 1992.

- State and local spending on [arks and recreation, raised from their own sources, jumped 74% between 1985 and 1991, while federal spending leveled out.

- Fourteen state land conservation programs, many of them passed in the late 1980's, provided more than $3 billion for state and local parks programs, including $58 million for 240 projects directly sponsored by nonprofit land trusts, according to a 1992 study.

- In recent years, North Carolina, Delaware, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, among others, have established new land conservation programs or affirmed and strengthened existing ones. Programs in several states-- California, New York, Rhode Island, and Iowa, for example-- experienced financial setbacks.

- Nonprofits can apply directly for project funds in many programs in addition to serving as project partners.

- Local governments are receiving larger shares of state conservation program funds.

- Voters in cities, counties, villages, and special districts throughout the country are saying yes to measures to finance parks and ;land conservation through various taxes, lotteries, and assessments. In addition, finance measures that do not require voter approval are being tapped. Approved measures include a $525 million 22- year assessment in Los Angeles County and a $135 million bond in Portland Oregon. (See also TPL's November 1996 election coverage on GreenSense web page)

- Selling points for success are specificity in acquisition targets; low cost per household; visible community economic, aesthetic, resource conservation, and recreational benefits; and a strong message about an enduring legacy/ investment.

- The outlook for increased state and local pots of money for land conservation is good in the short term. State revenues are healthier that they have been for decades in many states, despite weaknesses in some key places-- California, New York, Rhode Island, and Hawaii, for example. Local tax options will expand as states increase their flexibility to levy fees and taxes. Creativity, expertise, nimble responses, and a basket of tools and approaches-- hallmarks of TPL organizational culture-- are essential in what will nevertheless be a tough climate in a fragmented, changing, and diverse market.

Page last updated 04/03/2000