July is Park and Recreation Month and a time to celebrate and appreciate all the programs offered and maintained by the employees at your local parks

July is Park and Recreation Month and a great time to salute the people who work hard at your local, state and national parks all year long to create appealing spaces and programs for the public.

According to a recent study by the National Recreation and Parks Association, park workers cover a lot of ground. Literally.

The number of programs offered by local parks and their responsibilities might surprise the average citizen. It should certainly impress them.

The study reports on data obtained from 1,069 park and recreation agencies across the US from 2015 to 2017.

Survey reveals typical workload of parks and rec departments

Here is an overview of what parks

Studies show more ways that parks contribute to local economies and tax revenues

Many people think of parks as an expense - the costs associated with clearing the land, planting trees, installing park benches, mowing the grass, emptying trash receptacles, etc.

What if we reversed that mindset and thought of parks as economic engines instead?

To generate more revenue and taxes, build more parks. Big. Small. Doesn't matter. Just build more. Add more amenities such as artwork, sculptures, picnic tables, trees, grills, playgrounds, band stands, park benches, or even musical instruments. Because parks attract people. And revenue.

Here are 10 reasons why parks should be considered in terms of economic development and as a way to boost an economy.

Why parks have an economic impact

Aerial view of the High Line park in NYC, elevated 30-feet above the street and filled with greenery and unique park benches to take in the sights of the city. Source: Iwan Baan/Friends of the High Line

Who would ever think you could take an old abandoned rail line, add some plants and park benches, and turn the space into one of the most visited parks on the planet?

That's exactly what happened to the High Line park in NYC on Manhattan's West Side.

Here are 10 facts that make this park so unique:

Park in the Air - It's elevated. How many parks in the world sit above the ground? You could be sitting on a park bench reading a book and there are cars  driving 30 feet below. Train in the Air - The original elevated ra

Grand Canyon National Park at sunset. (Photo from National Park Service)

America has an incredible array of parks, monuments, preserves, forts, caves, pueblos, battlefields, and missile sites all managed by our National Park Service.

Here are a few interesting facts about those parks.

Most popular, biggest and deepest parks Yellowstone National Park is not only America's first national park, it is considered the First National Park in the WORLD. This spectacular setting was established in 1872 by Congress. In 1920, there were 1 million visitors to our national parks. In 2016, there was a record-setting 331 million visitors. In 2017, it was reported that 61 of 385 reporting parks set NEW visitation records.

Woman relaxing on a park bench at a local park. A new resource called "ParkServe" shows the public how well their city ranks when it comes to providing parks close to people

We all know the benefits of relaxing on park benches or running around playgrounds in a local park.

Studies have repeatedly shown that sunshine, fresh air and greenery are a powerful influence on our well-being.

But what if it took 30 minutes or an hour for you to get to a park?

How often would you find yourself sitting on that park bench enjoying a view of a pond with a few ducks paddling around? How many times would a mom pack her children into a car to drive them across town to hang on the monkey bars?

Probably not too often.

The Trust for Public Funds is looking to change that paradigm