National Parks of New York Harbor bring visitors, money and jobs to NYC
A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that more than 17.5 million visitors in 2010 spent $462.3 million in the National Parks of New York Harbor and the communities surrounding them. That spending supported more than 5,300 jobs in the local area.
The National Parks of New York Harbor consists of 10 NPS sites that preserve, promote and protect America’s unique historic, cultural, ecological and recreational treasures found in the New York City metropolitan area: African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument, Federal Hall National Memorial, Gateway National Recreation Area, General Grant National Memorial (Grant’s Tomb), Governors Island National Monument, Hamilton Grange National Memorial, Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site, Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site.
“National parks have always brought visitors and jobs to the communities where they are found,” said Maria Burks, Commissioner of the National Parks of New York Harbor. “We are especially fortunate here in the greater New York City area to have so many NPS sites that visitors travel from all over the world to see and experience. We’re also looking forward to furthering our economic benefit to our community as we work to encourage our neighbors and visitors alike to experience America’s Great Outdoors right here in New York City by inviting them to the ‘Parks in Their Back Yard’.”
Most of the spending/jobs are related to lodging, food, and beverage service (52 percent) followed by other retail (29 percent), entertainment/amusements (10 percent), gas and local transportation (7 percent) and groceries (2 percent).
The figures are based on $12 billion of direct spending by 281 million visitors in 394 national parks and nearby communities and are included in an annual, peer-reviewed, visitor spending analysis conducted by Dr. Daniel Stynes of Michigan State University for the National Park Service.
Across the U.S., local NPS visitor spending added a total of $31 billion to the national economy and supported more than 258,000 jobs, an increase of $689 million and 11,500 jobs over 2009.
The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.
For more information on how the NPS is working in New York, go to http://www.nps.gov/newyork.
To learn more about the National Parks of New York Harbor, visit us online at www.nps.gov/npnh or follow us on Twitter @NYHarborPrksNPS .
CONTACTS
National Parks of New York Harbor, including:
· African Burial Ground National Monument
· Castle Clinton National Memorial
· General Grant National Memorial (Grant’s Tomb)
· Governors Island National Monument
· Hamilton Grange National Memorial
· Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site
· Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
About The National Parks of New York Harbor
The National Parks of New York Harbor helps coordinate 10 National Parks with 22 unique destinations in New York City and northern New Jersey. The National Parks of New York Harbor includes nearly 27,000 acres and welcomes more than 12 million visitors each year.
The parks offer year-round public programs, curriculum-based education, recreational opportunities, natural habitats, historic buildings and museum collections. There are also many opportunities to become involved in volunteer and stewardship activities.
