How Cities Use Parks for Economic Development
City Parks Forum Briefing Papers 3
By Megan Lewis, AICP
Parks provide intrinsic environmental, aesthetic, and recreation benefits to our cities. They are also a source of positive economic benefits. They enhance property values, increase municipal revenue, bring in homebuyers and workers, and attract retirees.
At the bottom line, parks are a good financial investment for a community. Understanding the economic impacts of parks can help decision makers better evaluate the creation and maintenance of urban parks.
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About the Author
Megan Lewis, AICP
<p>Megan Lewis, AICP, has more than 30 years of experience in the planning field, with a focus on applied research, strategic planning, relationship building, and project concepting. At Arts Alliance Illinois she oversees the Public Funding Navigator program, which conducts research and provides technical support to Illinois’s creative sector. Prior to joining Arts Alliance, Megan held various positions with private sector firms, including Cardno/Stantec and WRT LLC, within nonprofit organizations including the American Planning Association, where she was part of the research team for over a decade, and as an independent consultant to the Chicago Park District, Metropolitan Planning Council, and OAI Inc. She has also been an adjunct instructor at Illinois Tech, co-teaching a course on site planning for architects. Megan is the incoming Vice Chair for the Arts and Planning Division, where she will work to give planners across the country the information and tools they need to articulate the important connection arts and culture have to community health and vitality. She has a BA in economics from Indiana University and master’s degree in regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania.</p>