Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD), founded in 1934, currently owns and manages over 90,000 acres of parks, open space, and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Historically, EBRPD has enjoyed high levels of support from its constituents and users. However, as local government options for raising revenues have become more limited and demands for funding more numerous, EBRPD has recognized the importance of informing residents, users, government, and community leaders of the benefits of the land, facilities, and services it provides. Of particular concern to EBRPD was that the economic benefits of parks provision be evaluated and documented.
EPS, in conjunction with Strategy Research Institute (SRI), was commissioned by EBRPD to study the economic benefits of EBRPD’s system. The work effort included (1) conducting a literature review of the economic benefits of parks; (2) analyzing the recreation and conservation uses and visitation to EBRPD parks; and (3) framing EBRPD lands, facilities, and operations in the context of the district’s constituent communities and projected demographic and land use changes. From this background, EPS identified, described, and quantified the broad array of economic and quality-of-life benefits associated with the regional park system. Benefits were divided into benefits to users and district residents, public investment and cost-saving benefits, and benefits of user and district expenditures in the local economy. Benefits were identified in terms of their impact on quality of life, economic vitality, and social equity.