Tourism to Cuyahoga Valley National Park contributes $225 million to local economy

News Release Date:
August 27, 2024

Contact:Pamela Barnes, 440-241-5857

BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - A new National Park Service report shows that 2.9 million visitors to Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) in 2023 spent $139 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 2,136 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $225 million.

"I'm so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year," said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. "And I'm just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country."

"People come to Cuyahoga Valley National Park to enjoy the 140 miles of trails and green space between the cities of Cleveland and Akron and end up supporting the US and local economies along the way," said Superintendent Lisa Petit. "We're proud that Cuyahoga Valley National Park supports 2,136 jobs and generates $225 million in revenue to communities near the park.

The 2023 visitor spending analysis incorporates newly available survey data for CVNP that was collected as part of NPS socioeconomic monitoring. Previous spending estimates were derived from socioeconomic data from 2015. The updated survey data revealed that more visitors are staying overnight in the local area when coming to CVNP and are spending more money per trip compared to the previous survey. Overall, the 2023 visitor spending estimates more accurately reflect local visitor spending patterns as well as increases in visitation and associated costs. For more information, view the Visitor Spending Effects webpage.

The National Park Service report, 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. This spending supported 415,400 jobs, provided $19.4 billion in labor income and $55.6 in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $9.9 billion in economic output and 89,200 jobs. The restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.

An interactive tool is available to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, and total economic contribution by sector for national, state and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available on the NPS website.

To learn more about national parks in Ohio and how the National Park Service works with Ohio communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/ohio.

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About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

CVNP encompasses over 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. Managed by the National Park Service, CVNP combines cultural, historical, recreational, and natural resources in one setting. For more information, visit us at www.nps.gov /cuva on Facebook ,Twitter or Instagram, or call 440-717-3890. 

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