Keeping Parks Open
Across the country, public lands are being lost to shrinking budgets. At Our Lands & Waters Foundation, our goal is simple; keep parks and natural resource areas open and available for public use. That’s just good stewardship. Good for the Environment
The Corps is the steward for 12 million acres of land and water resources including the resulting riparian corridors. Riparian ar
eas, where our lands and waters come together, occupy less than one percent of the landscape, and yet, are the most diverse, dynamic and complex places on earth. Nearly seventy percent of all land animals use riparian corridors, including many threatened and endangered species. Wisely managed, these lands and waters contribute to the purity of our air and water, to the fertility of our soil and to the natural control of flooding along rivers and streams. Good for our Children
Natural areas provide numerous health benefits and ensure ready access to outdoor recreation. This is especially important as childhood obesity, heart disease, and other health problems related to inactivity are on the rise. Children’s outdoor activity has been shown to increase creative play, boost immune systems, decrease hyperactivity, and reduce incidences of depression. Studies show that people living near parks, forests, and other green spaces report fewer physical and mental health complaints that those in other areas. Additionally, outdoor areas provide educational opportunities, which allow children to learn to appreciate nature, develop interpersonal skills and build self-esteem. Good for Business
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the largest federal provider of outdoor recreational services. More than 4,200 recreation areas are located on Corps-managed lands in 42 states. The vast majority (70%) of Corps sites are located within 50 miles of a major metropolitan area, making recreation opportunities easily accessible to millions of Americans. Corps facilities are local economic engines that entertain 370 million visits annually. Studies by the Outdoor Industry Foundation show that public lands sustain an outdoor recreation industry that contributes $730 billion per year to the U.S. economy and supports 6.5 million jobs. Fishing and hunting alone contribute more than $205 billion annually to the economy. Outdoor recreation retail sales ($289 billion annually) exceed annual sales of pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, automobile and light truck manufacturing, and the motion picture and video industries. Good for the Future
Whether it is jobs related to outdoor recreation or health benefits that help lower medical bills, stewardship of our lands and waters is a consistently sounds investment in our future! According to the Trust for Public Land, conservation returns from four to ten dollars in economic benefit for every dollar invested. With your help, our stewardship efforts will pay healthy dividends today and continue to be a wise investment for the future.
