States Where Investing in Parks Pays Off the Most

Source: BanksPhotos / E+ via Getty Images

5. Minnesota
> Value added from parks as % of GDP: 0.56%
> Overall value added from parks: $2.2 billion — #9 highest
> GDP, 2019: $383 billion — #17 highest
> Park jobs: 28,312 — #9 most
> Park-related labor income: $1.3 million — #9 highest

Source: Gary Gray / iStock via Getty Images

4. Colorado
> Value added from parks as % of GDP: 0.62%
> Overall value added from parks: $2,437.50 million — #8 highest
> GDP, 2019: $392.22 billion — #16 highest
> Park jobs: 34,046 — #8 most
> Park-related labor income: $1.4 billion — #8 highest

Source: pabradyphoto / iStock via Getty Images

3. Illinois
> Value added from parks as % of GDP: 0.64%
> Overall value added from parks: $5,655.51 million — #2 highest
> GDP, 2019: $890.5 billion — #5 highest
> Park jobs: 78,772 — #2 most
> Park-related labor income: $3.5 billion — #2 highest

Source: Art Wager / iStock via Getty Images

2. Hawaii
> Value added from parks as % of GDP: 0.66%
> Overall value added from parks: $609.8 million — #25 highest
> GDP, 2019: $91.8 billion — #38 highest
> Park jobs: 8,033 — #31 most
> Park-related labor income: $347.5 million — #26 highest

Source: rruntsch / iStock via Getty Images

1. North Dakota
> Value added from parks as % of GDP: 0.72%
> Overall value added from parks: $424.3 million — #31 highest
> GDP, 2019: $59 billion — #45 highest
> Park jobs: 6,806 — #33 most
> Park-related labor income: $255.8 million — #31 highest