Schenectady’s parks

A park appears in a city budget as an expense, but its contribution extends beyond the services the city pays to provide. People use it for recreation, visitors spend money nearby, and tree cover changes the surrounding environment. The Schenectady Parks Economic Impact Report examined those contributions together.

I worked on the economic analysis, surface-temperature mapping, graphics, and report at Saratoga Associates. We examined spending associated with park operations alongside recreation value, environmental benefits, and the relationship between parks and surrounding property. The measures describe different contributions to the city; they should not be treated as interchangeable.

The temperature map compared surface-temperature samples from summer 2023 and 2024 with the city's parks. It shows the contrast between tree-covered parkland and hotter developed areas.

I helped present the findings to municipal and professional audiences, including Schenectady City Council and the New York Conference of Mayors. The city published the team report in March 2025.