Missouri parks deliver $1.5B in eco devo to state, study finds

Missouri's parks are a reprieve from daily life, but they also are economic development drivers.

The Show Me State's 93 state parks deliver $1.5 billion in total sales to the state's economy, according to a study released this morning by Missouri’s Division of State Parks and the University of Missouri. 

"The system operates on a $68 million annual budget, but it obviously brings a much bigger economic benefit to Missouri citizens and our visitors," Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Kurt Schaefer said in a news release. "Tourism, outdoor recreation and cultural interpretation remain as popular today as they’ve ever been."

The report further indicates that the state park system provides $882.7 million for Missouri's gross domestic product, $514.7 million produced in local labor and payroll income, and 11,890 jobs supported.

There are roughly 20 million park visitors annually, according to the report.