240
240
AT H L E T I C F I E L D S
109
BASKETBALL
COURTS
18
RECREATION
CENTERS
149
TENNIS
COURTS
7
FITNESS
CENTERS
MILES OF TRAILS
44
14
VOLLEYBALL
COURTS
21
3
GYMNASIUMS
180
NATURE CENTERS
210+
17
14
5
7
5
MECKLENBURG
COUNTY AQUATIC
CENTER
BOAT
LAUNCH
AREAS
SPRAYGROUNDS
COMMUNITY GARDENS
AND 429 GARDEN PLOTS
GRAYSON
SKATEPARK
3
SENIOR CENTERS
PICNIC SHELTERS AND PAVILIONS
FISHING
PIERS
DAVID WAYMER
MODEL AIRPLANE
FLYING FIELD
GOLF
COURSES
152
PARKS AND FACILITIES
PLAYGROUNDS
HORNET’S NEST
BMX BIKE TRACK
5
DISC GOLF
COURSES
LATTA EQUESTRIAN
CENTER
RAY’S
SPLASH
PLANET
GRADY COLE CENTER /
MEMORIAL STADIUM
HISTORIC
ST. MARY’S
CHAPEL
6
POOLS
MCDOWELL
CAMPGROUND
DOG PARKS
CAROLINA
RAPTOR
CENTER
FIRST TEE
OF
CHARLOTTE
HISTORIC
LATTA
PLANTATION
HISTORIC NC COMMUNITY US NATIONAL
SAILING
WHITEWATER
RURAL HILL
& ROWING
CENTER
CENTER
Parks, trails and playgrounds
among the Top 5 most
important community
amenities. 2
$81 MILLION
ANNUAL VALUE OF HEALTH CARE COST SAVINGS
HEALTH CARE
COST SAVINGS
TO MECKLENBURG COUNTY PARK USERS 1
$53,624,000
$4,372,000
Cities with strong park
and recreation amenities
ANNUAL SPENDING BY TOURISTS
LOCAL SALES TAXES COLLECTED
attract small businesses
and retirees.
WHO CAME TO OUR PARKS
1
ANNUALLY BY TOURIST SPENDING
1
All around the U.S., real estate brokers and homebuilders are advocating parks as one
of the top residential selling points.
$10 MILLION
1,505,684
TONS OF AIR POLLUTION
REMOVED BY TREES AND SHRUBS
IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY
PARKLANDS ANNUALLY 1
ANNUAL ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO SELLERS WHO SOLD THEIR
HOMES NEAR MECKLENBURG COUNTY PARKS DUE TO INCREASED
SALE PRICES 1
$3,913,500
ANNUAL INCREASED TAX BENEFIT
TO MECKLENBURG COUNTY DUE TO
INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES FROM
NEARBY PARKS 1
$3,889,000
ANNUAL AIR POLLUTION
VALUE OF PARKLAND TREES 1
$18,892,000
ANNUAL SAVINGS DUE TO PARK
RUNOFF REDUCTION / STORM WATER
COST SAVINGS DUE TO PARKLANDS 1
Counties with greater recreation opportunities also had higher rates of physical activity,
lower health care expenditures and lower obesity rates. 3
Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and
quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. In 2012, more
than 1 out of 3 kids are now considered overweight or obese. 4
500 FT
How do parks help?
$8,032
Children living within a 1/2 mile of a park or playground are
5 times more likely to be a healthy weight. 5
AVERAGE INCREASED HOME
SALES PRICE IF WITHIN 500 FEET
OF A PARK IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY
1
Among the age groups 55-64 and 65+, the top community amenities desired are
walking/jogging trails and park areas. In fact, these two amenities are ranked
first and second among all buyer age groups. These amenities rank more important
than convenience stores, drug stores and public transportation. 6
Sources
1 Economic Benefits of the Park and Recreation System of Mecklenburg County North Carolina, Trust For Public Land, 2010.
2 National Association of Realtors and National Association of Home Builders.
3 Journal of Leisure Research. Spatial Analysis of Linkages between Health Care Expenditures, Physical Inactivity, Obesity,
and Recreation Supply, 2005.
4 Center for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov
5 Journal of Community Health. Place to Play: Association of Park Space and Facilities with Healthy Weight
Status Among Children.
6 National Association of Home Builders, 50+ Housing Online Magazine, Dec. 12, 2013.
OCTOBER 2014