In two weeks last month, Springfield-Greene County Park Board events garnered more than $2 million in nonresidential spending for the local economy.
Between Oct. 11 and Oct. 24, more than 50,000 patrons attended park events in the area, according to a city news release.
"A strong parks system is an obvious asset to any community in terms of leisure, health and personal enrichment," Mayor Jim O'Neal said in the release. "Sometimes the economic impact of parks is less obvious to the public."
According to a study by the Parks Department and the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, the $2 million effect on the area was directly due to nonresidential spending. The study can be found
here.
Event estimations, according to the report, are as follows:
- Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center Opening Week, Oct. 11-17 - 6,000 patrons, $48,1000 nonresidential spending
- Dickerson Park Zoo regular attendance and 27th Annual Halloween Spooktacular, Oct. 21-24 - 5,741 patrons daily zoo attendance/7150 Spooktacular patrons, $168,4000 nonresidential spending
- Breast Cancer Awareness Walk & 5-K Run at Jordan Valley Park, Oct. 16 - 5,000 patrons, $25,000 nonresidential spending
- Rutledge-Wilson Community Farm Park Harvest Fest, Oct. 15-17 and Oct. 22-24 - 11,000 patrons, $52,100 nonresidential spending
- Incredible Pizza Fall Classic Youth Soccer Tournament, Oct. 16-17 - 2,656 players and coaches/5,412 spectators, $1 million nonresidential spending
- Missouri State High School Girls’ Golf Championships, Oct. 18-19 - 256 players and coaches/600 spectators, $147,900 nonresidential spending
- Missouri State High School Girls’ Tennis Championships, Oct. 21-23 - 240 players and coaches/1,560 spectators, $156,000 nonresidential spending
- Missouri State High School Girls’ Softball Championships, Oct. 22-23 - 288 players and coaches/4,200 spectators, $408,500 nonresidential spending
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