Conservation Tools

The Trust for Public Land conducted an economic analysis of the return on Pennsylvania’s investment in land and water conservation through the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund and found that every $1 invested in land conservation returned $7 in natural goods and services to the Pennsylvania economy.

A literature review finding that neighborhood and community parks have a potentially positive impact on surrounding residential communities. The following are the key findings of the review: Neighborhood parks can provide up to a 20% increase in housing values for those homes facing the park and benefits can extend to approximately 600 feet, with houses nearer to the park receiving the majority of the benefit. Community parks may provide benefits up to 33% of the residential real estate value, and homes within 1,000 feet of them may receive a 9% increase in home value.

More than just pretty places, preserved open spaces contribute to our local economies and property values, they help us save on everything from health care to recreation, and they perform valuable ecosystem services that naturally improve the air we breathe and the water we drink. Included in this library item are both the full study and a study summary.

A review of the now quite extensive economics literature on the value of open space, this study covers more than 60 articles published in the past 25 years that use the various methodologies. The analysis focuses primarily on the value of open space in and around urbanized areas, including parks, greenbelts, natural areas and wildlife habitats, wetlands, and farmland.

American Forests analyzed the Delaware Valley region to provide community leaders with detailed information about the region's tree cover and its environmental and economic impacts. It documents the landscape changes that have occurred over time and identifies the impact these changes have made on the environmental services provided by the region’s urban forests. In addition, American Forests created a “green data layer” –a digital tool that local communities can use to integrate urban forest ecology into future planning.

City parks and open space improve our physical and psychological health, strengthen our communities, and make our cities and neighborhoods more attractive places to live and work. But too few Americans are able to enjoy these benefits and low-income neighborhoods populated by minorities and recent immigrants are especially short of park space. Numerous studies have shown parks have numerous benefits for public health, social and community development and the environment.