Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino thanked the Friends of Westchester County Parks for commissioning the first-ever study of the economic benefits of Westchester County parks. The results revealed that Westchester County parks have a $183 million positive economic value on the county’s economy.
The study also recognized the inherent benefits of parks such as enhanced property values, increased tourism and improved quality of life.
“If it weren’t for the Friends of Parks, we wouldn’t have had this analysis. We would not have been able to afford to take this comprehensive look at the economic relationship between our parks and taxpayers,” Astorino said at the press conference held at the county’s Maple Moor Golf Course. “With pension and health care costs skyrocketing and revenues flat, we need creative ways to preserve Westchester’s natural beauty and maintain our quality of life.”
The study was sponsored by the Friends of Westchester County Parks, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and conducted by PROS Consulting, LLC, a nationally recognized parks consultant.
The relationship between the Friends of Westchester County Parks and Westchester County is another example of the public private partnerships that have succeeded in maintaining services for county residents. Other recent examples are Con Edison’s sponsorship to sustain the Bike Sunday program and Turf & Landscape’s sponsorship along with citizen volunteerism to launch the River Rescue program.
To learn more about the study or to support the Friends of Westchester County Parks, go to www.friendsofwestchesterparks.com.
Pictured (left to right): Bob Cohen (Member of Westchester County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board), Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson (Chairman of Friends of Westchester County Parks), Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino, Christopher Cawley (Vice Chairman of Friends of Westchester County Parks) and John Kirkpatrick (Secretary of Friends of Westchester County Parks).