By Scott Durham

All information was pulled from the study, “The Economic and Fiscal Impacts of West Virginia State Parks and Forests: Fiscal Year 2023”

In Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), for every $1 of general tax revenue provided to the park system, $18.54, on average, was generated in fresh money that likely would not be there if not for the operation of West Virginia State Parksand Forests.

For every $1 of tax money spent on WV State Parks, State Parks generate $1.23 in tax revenue. Said another way, WV State Parks are 123% self-sufficient.

In FY23, visitors to West Virginia State Parks and Forests spent an estimated $482.97M in the state. Approximately 57.68 percent [$278.57M] of this spending was by out-of-state visitors. The total economic activity stimulated by West Virginia State Parks and Forests during FY23 was approximately $521.56M. 

The total economic impact from travelers to/from West Virginia State Parks and Forests during FY23 was an estimated $421.95M. Economic impact from travelers, a component of total economic activity, is a measure of “fresh money” infused into the state’s economy that likely would not have been generated in the absence of the park system. 

Regarding employment, the economic activity stimulated by visitation to West Virginia State Parks and Forests supported approximately 5,256 jobs in the state during FY23. 

In terms of wages and income, the economic activity spawned by West Virginia State Parks and Forests was responsible for roughly $187.85MM in wages and salary income in FY23. 

Economic activity stimulated by West Virginia State Parks and Forests generated approximately $27.92M in state and local tax revenues during FY23. As such, roughly $1.23 in state and local tax revenues were generated for every $1 of tax money spent on the park system. 

Economic activity created by West Virginia State Parks and Forests was associated with approximately $288.66M in value-added effects which is a measure of the park system’s contribution to the gross domestic product of the state. These effects are especially important at the park-by-park level where most of the impact is retained in the local area.