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Mecklenburg County and Tourism Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation plays a huge role in our tourism industry. According to the City of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA), “the amateur sports market produces approximately 50% of the City’s overall event room night production and event sales activities. Currently, these events have primarily used facilities owned and managed by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department.” A Feb. 2012 UNCC report entitled “The Economic Impact of Sports and Sports Events on the Charlotte MSA Economy” measured the economic impact of amateur and youth events at $232 Million for 2011. Furthermore, the amateur sporting events normally occur over low demand periods, adding significant, incremental economic impact to the hospitality and retail sectors during times of lower business demand.
Get Happy – Live Near a Park The evidence continues to mount – green space puts us all in a better mental state and researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have the latest data to prove it. Their recently published study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , and reported on in Fast Company, finds that places that have more trees tended to have happier residents. They even go so far as to say their work “proves ‘greening’ could be considered a low-cost, high-return investment to positively influence mental health.” Great information to pass along to the happy people in your community! Green space puts people in a better mental state, with "significant and sizable" effects. Better get gardening. Read the rest of the article here.
Those places with more trees tended to be happier, and the association was "significant and sizable."