I regularly hear that people have moved to the town where I live because of the trees and open space. Yes, jobs are important and may be the main reason why people move, but they often specifically pick my town because of the feeling they get when they walk the streets. In survey after survey, people consistently give higher ratings for elements that relate directly to their daily quality of life including such things as an area’s physical beauty, opportunities for socializing, and a community’s perceived level of openness to all people. The more people they see enjoying the outdoors, the more appealing a town becomes.

Let’s take a look at how plants and trees play into this picture. We all know the importance of plants. But putting a documented, measurable value on their contribution to the economy and our well-being can be tricky. Leave it to noted agricultural economist Dr. Charles Hall, Ellison Chair in International Floriculture, Texas A&M University, to do so. In a white paper developed for America in Bloom, Hall states, “…some of the economic benefits of green spaces, parks, and other managed municipal landscapes are that the beautification of these areas:

• draws customers to shopping districts,
• reduces shopper stress while they are there,
• enhances overall curb appeal for local businesses,
• boosts apartment and commercial building occupancy,
• increases revenue from tourism,
• creates local jobs (from various landscape design, installation, and maintenance activities),
• increases residential and commercial property values,
• and even reduces the costs of street repairs from the reduced temperatures resulting from shaded roadways and sidewalks.”

Whew! But wait! There’s more, and you can download the entire report at the AIB site:  http://www.americainbloom.org/resources/Benefits-of-Plants—Economic.aspx.

The bottom line – our local businesses do better if we all work together to restore and maintain the open spaces that attract our neighbors and our customers.