Indy Parks Economic Impact Study

Abstract

As a department of the city of Indianapolis, Indy Parks and Recreation provides and manages the various parks, green spaces, trails, and recreation activities in Marion County, Indiana. Across its system, Indy Parks offers 212 parks with a combined 11,258 acres of green space, and more than 3,000 annual sports, art, education, and recreation programs. Despite Indy Parks’ numerous natural and recreational offerings, Indianapolis has one of the lowest rates of park spending per resident in the nation. An internal needs study conducted in 2018 estimated that the budget for Indy Parks would need to be nearly double to fund an optimal parks and recreation system. Due to these findings, Indy Parks partnered with the IU Public Policy Institute to understand the current economic impact and community benefits of the park system on the local economy.