Live / Scholar Series Part 2: Parks Are Worth It! Understanding, Measuring, and Applying the Multiple Values of Parks

Includes a Live Web Event on 09/03/2026 at 2:00 PM (EDT)

Parks provide many benefits, including recreation, public health, economic development, climate resilience, ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, and community well-being. This webinar introduces participants to contemporary frameworks for understanding the value of parks, including anthropocentric, biocentric, and pluricentric perspectives on human-nature relationships. It will explore this multiplicity of park benefits, from recreation and tourism to health, ecosystem services, and even values to non-users, and introduce the major economic valuation methods used to estimate them. Drawing on hypothetical case studies, participants will learn how valuation evidence can support park planning, investment, conservation, and management decisions.

Learning Outcomes:

Explain how different value frameworks shape perceptions of parks and park priorities.
Assess direct use, indirect use, ecosystem service, and non-use benefits provided by parks.
Evaluate major economic valuation methods used to estimate recreational, environmental, health, social, cultural, and conservation benefits.
Apply to support planning, investment, management, and policy decisions affecting parks.

Dr. Randall Rosenberger

Professor of Applied Economics

Oregon State University

Dr. Randall Rosenberger is professor of applied economics at Oregon State University. His teaching and research span recreation and tourism economics, environmental and resource economics, econometrics, and decision-making. He is internationally recognized for his contributions to benefit transfer methods, meta-analysis, and the valuation of recreation and environmental resources. His work has informed federal and state recreation planning, including assessments of the health and economic benefits of parks and outdoor recreation. He maintains the longstanding Recreation Use Values Database and is currently serving as the interim director of the Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE).

This session will offer the following credits:


0.1 IACET CEU	1.0 AIA HSW LU	1.0 LA CES HSW PDH

CEUs for a total of 1.0 Professional Development Hours (0.1 IACET CEU / 1.0 AIA HSW LU / 1.0 LA CES HSW PDH)will be provided to learners meeting the following requirements:

Be present for 95% of the duration of the learning event;
Participate in activities and discussion throughout;
Complete assessment with 80% mastery of learning outcome;
Complete feedback/evaluation survey.

CEUs can be applied toward NRPA CPRP/CPRE renewal. To obtain your CEU, please visit the "Event Details" tab above to complete the associated components for this event.

Instructor(s) Disclosures:

The instructors of this training webinar are employed by PlayCore and disclose an interest in attendees partnering with PlayCore on their play and recreation initiatives.

Speakers Disclosures:

The opinions of the speakers in these events do not necessarily reflect the views of PlayCore and its brands.

Notes:

For any questions or to request a copy of the written transcript for this session, please contact [email protected]

CORE Overview

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