The Economic Significance and Impact of Pennsylvania State Parks: An Updated Assessment of 2010 Park Visitor Spending on the State and Local Economy

Prepared for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, this study found that:

• In 2010, Pennsylvania’s state parks hosted 37.9 million visitors who spent $859 million on their trips, including $201 million in spending by out-of-state visitors. The direct effects of this were 9,435 part-time and full-time jobs; $227.2 million in wages, salaries and payroll benefits; and $360.6 million in value added benefits.
• As compared to 2008, there were 4.3 million more visitors and $121 million more in visitor spending.
• This report includes both statewide and park specific analyses and a comparison the results of similar studies from other states. For example, Pennsylvania’s state parks generated twice as many sales as did New Jersey’s, and a similar amount to New York’s.