New analysis shows potential employment impact for Massachusetts
Plymouth, MA – An analysis commissioned by The Pew Charitable Trusts and prepared by Cadmus Group shows that investing in the maintenance of our national parks could create or support more than 2,261 jobs here in Massachusetts and 110,169 jobs across the country.
Greg Galer
“Massachusetts National Parks are under-recognized for their tremendous and diverse benefits – cultural, social, education, and economic. Rejuvenated investment in the Parks here and across the country will not only restore and repair iconic, landmark destinations, but create many quality jobs, a hallmark of historic preservation,” said Greg Galer, executive director of the Boston Preservation Alliance. “Our national parks across the country have been neglected for far too long, and the large lists of backlogged repairs represent a tremendous economic opportunity.”
More than 10 million people flocked to visit Massachusetts national parks last year, spending more than $521 million in park gateway communities.
The National Park Service (NPS) reports it has more than 42,000 assets across its 400-plus sites that have overdue infrastructure repairs and that fixing them will cost approximately $11.3 billion (based on 2016 data). This deferred maintenance includes crumbling roads, deteriorating historic buildings, impassable trails, and outdated utility systems, all of which can negatively impact visitor access and safety, the protection of our nation’s history, and local communities that depend on park visitation for economic survival.
In Massachusetts, Boston’s three national park sites, including many popular stops along Boston’s Freedom Trail, need more than $135 million in repairs and maintenance. Also, the Cape Cod National Seashore faces a backlog of almost $44 million in funds required to restore full access to the pristine and scenic landscape. If an investment were made to fully address the deferred maintenance at all 15 of the National Park Service sites in our state, it could create 2,261 jobs in Massachusetts.
“We are proud of our Massachusetts national parks which provide amazing opportunities for our visitors to immerse themselves in unparalled recreational, historical, and educational experiences. They are also critical economic drivers for all of the communities that host and border our parks,” said Kathy Kottaridis, Executive Director of Historic Boston Incorporated. “Investing in the infrastructure of our national parks in a win-win for our state as it could create thousands of jobs while also helping to restore and protect our Massachusetts national parks and preserve access to the unparalleled experiences that they offer.”
