Greenbelt Park Visitors Spent More Than $18.3 Million Locally

Approximately 270,600 people visited in 2010, according to data from a new report on the economic impact of national parks released by the National Park Service. Of those 270,600 visitors, more than 55,700 stayed overnight. 

Those visitors spent more than $18.3 million locally. The vast majority of that money, $17.2 million, came from non-local visitors. 

The result of that spending, according to the report, supported more than 200 local jobs, mostly in the lodging, restaurant, retail and amusement industries. Those 200 jobs added an estimated $8.4 million in labor income in the local economy.

Park employees also had an impact on the local economy in 2010, according to the report. Park payroll for Greenbelt Park's 14 National Park Service jobs ran roughly $759,000 in 2010. Impacts of park payroll supported 17 jobs and generated $1 million in labor income in the local economy.

The Park Service predicts some 259,600 visitors in 2012.