By The Numbers

NRPA Facility Market Reports

An NRPA Facility Market Report (FMR) can give your agency answers about surrounding population, resident demographics and potential reach.

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St. Louis Bound

Some interesting facts about America's Gateway to the West, aka St. Louis.

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Happy 100th Anniversary, National Park Service

Some interesting facts about the National Park Service, celebrating its 100th year, and some if the amazing features it oversees.

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Americans' Favorite Summer Outdoor Activities

What are Americans' favorite summertime outdoor activities?

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Living the Teen Dream

The top 10 best (and most fun) cities in the country for teens.

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Put Me in, Coach

Some insights from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association's annual Sports, Fitness and Leisure Activities Topline Participation Report into the recreational activities of US residents.

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Lightning Strikes

Some interesting facts about one of nature’s most powerful sources of energy: Lightning.

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Free Play Across the Globe

Some interesting findings from a 2009 study that sought to answer the question "What can the free-play habits and choices of children all over the world tell us about this most instinctual activity?" 

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The Goods on Golf

This month’s numbers reveal some interesting facts about the game of golf.

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With a Little Help From Friends

Crowdfunding is proving a useful new tool for park and recreation agencies across the country.

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Lovin Las Vegas

This month’s numbers reveal not only the success of this year’s Conference, but also the breath of the international presence that it draws.

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Parks and the Economy

This month’s numbers offer a glimpse at the economic significance of spending by local and regional public park systems in the United States.

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Education: A Key to Success

This month’s numbers are testament to the importance of education as a building block for a successful park and recreation career. 

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Waterfront Access

 We plumbed the depths of PRORAGIS to pull these stats on waterfront access and usage among reporting NRPA member agencies. 

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Stressed Out

We take a look at the American Psychological Association’s latest figures regarding stress in America and how a bit of leisure time can help. 

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The Truth About Parks and Dogs

Dog parks are popular draws for pet lovers — here, we highlight that impact with hard numbers. 

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The Birding Effect

Check out highlights from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, which sheds some light on the true value of birding — and by extension, the value of birds.

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Lawn-gevity

Check out these interesting stats on landscaping, turf maintenance and the people whose green thumbs enhance our recreation facilities all year long. 

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Proof of Worth

An economic impact study in Chicago shows parks and recreation add real value to urban environments.

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Transformative Technology

Technology is having a major impact on how we recreate in the modern age.

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Conference Counts

Data from the 2014 NRPA Congress is in, and we have several interesting highlights to share.

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Wild for Water

Swimming sports are popular in the U.S., but a surprising number of people still don't know how to swim. Check out this roundup of aquatics stats for an illuminating look at what's going on in your pools.

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Location, Location, Location

These county health rankings provide a snapshot of various health indicators across the United States.

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Record Holders

These record- holding parks and public spaces boast some of the most impressive statistics among their peers.

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Readin’, Writin’ and Recreation

As we get closer to the 2014 Congress, we take a closer look at how our members value educational opportunities and what it takes to pull off so many great sessions and classes each year.

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INsights on America’s OUTdoor Habits

As NRPA prepares for July’s Parks and Recreation Month, we asked a national audience what drives them OUT of the house and INto nature. Check out the results here.

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Toward 10 Million Kids Outdoors

Get an update on the progress of NRPA’s campaign to get 10 Million Kids Outdoors over three years.

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Serving Aces for the Future

Statistics from the United States Tennis Association show the current state of tennis in the U.S. and the impact the sport can have on young minds.

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Walk On

Statistics from America Walks show the state of walking for exercise in America today.

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Golf Gab

We searched through hazards and bunkers to come up with the following list of nifty golf facts.

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Congress Counts

We may not be able to track how many great ideas started in Houston, but the following numbers help illustrate what happened during this year’s week of Congress.

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Wildlife Conservation

Reducing human impacts on wild animal populations is critical to the futures of a number of species in our parks.

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Concussions in Youth Sports and Recreation

Nonfatal traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) related to youth sports and recreation activities have seen an ever-increasing amount of public and media attention — and for good reason. Youth are at increased risk for TBIs and are more likely to have a severe and prolonged recovery.

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#ParkRecLuv is Out of Control

This July, NRPA asked you to show your love for parks and recreation during the national celebration of Park and Recreation Month. The response was overwhelming.

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Participation in Outdoor Recreation

According to The Outdoor Foundation, participation in outdoor recreation reached a six-year high in 2012 with nearly 50 percent of Americans ages six and older taking part. However, the numbers show more effort needs to be focused on young people and minorities, as participation rates in these demographics are falling.

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Water, Water Everywhere

Water is often taken for granted, but it’s critical to so many factors of life, including recreation. These numbers show the value of water for American recreation and the larger U.S. economy.

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Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs

How MWR’s recreation programs contribute to the resiliency and readiness of our armed service members and their families.

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America’s Conservation Economy

What’s the financial impact of conservation each year in the United States?

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Economic Benefits of Open Spaces

Compact, walkable communities with shared open spaces provide more economic benefits than you might realize

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Paying for State Parks

A breakdown of state park costs by Resources for the Future

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Mobile Revolution

Is your agency keeping up with the smartphone and tablet world? It should.

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Outdoor Recreation Industry Comparisons

The raw numbers from the Outdoor Recreation Economy Report look even more impressive and encouraging once you see how they stack up against activities and expenditures from other fields.

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State of the Great Outdoors

The 2012 Outdoor Recreation Economy Report by the Outdoor Industry Association shows great promise for parks and recreation in a down economy.

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Measuring Impact

Parks offer astronomical returns on investment--socially, environmentally, and economically.

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Course Numbers

Statistics from the National Golf Foundation’s report, “The Future of Public Golf in America.” 

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The Numbers at Stake

In a federal legislative era dominated by deep budget cuts, parks have a lot at stake. The NRPA Advocacy team presents a collection of statistics showing the aggregate impact of federal funding on greenspace, trails, greenways, community development, and health and wellness.

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