More than at any other time in our history, urban areas are the engines generating our nation’s wealth, and strong cities are the key to keeping America competitive in the rapidly changing global economy.
Mayors understand that investments in community parks help grow local economies by creating jobs and increasing property values. They know that parks attract the kinds of businesses, workforces, and private capital that make metropolitan areas economically competitive in today’s global economy.
Mayors also know that parks are critical to maintaining and improving the physical and mental health of all Americans. And parks provide wide-ranging environmental benefits, including keeping our urban waters clean and removing air pollution, which has been linked to asthma in children.
The Mayors for Parks Coalition helped advance two historic wins:
The Mayors for Parks Coalition advocates for increased funding for the ORLP grant program, which provides matching grants to cities to increase outdoor recreation opportunities in parks and green spaces. Since 2014, the ORLP has supported 157 projects nationwide, investing $470 million and leveraging an additional $496 million in matching funds.
We are proud to stand with the bi‐partisan Mayors for Parks Coalition and to add our voice in support of this national campaign for increased federal funding for our nation’s city parks. This will in turn strengthen our city parks and is a key step forward in ensuring that our cities and our nation’s economy are stronger than ever.
For more information about the Mayors for Parks Coalition, contact us using the link below.