Kent County parks generate more than $30 million in annual economic activity. That’s one of a number of findings revealed in an economic impact study conducted by Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business and Kent County Parks.
Kent County Parks encompass 7,300 acres. There are 14 parks of 200 acres or more. Those parks provide a number of amenities from 50 miles of natural and paved trails to 22 picnic shelters and 31 playgrounds. There are sports fields, fishing access, boat launches and public beaches. The $6 million-dollar annual budget includes operation of an 18-hole golf course.
The recreational appeal and use is documented in Economic Impact Study: Kent County Parks authored by the Seidman Research Office in the Seidman College of Business, in partnership with Kent County Parks.
More than 500 households were surveyed and of those respondents, nine out of 10 said they’d visited a county park in the past year. It’s estimated 1.4 million visit the parks each year.
The spinoff in economic activity is $33 million annually with $14.7 million generated by nonlocal visitors. The study finds that activity created 317 jobs.
Patrick Center, WGVU News.