A new National Park Service report shows that over 32,000 visitors to James A. Garfield National Historic Site in 2022 spent $1.3 million in communities near the Mentor site.
These expenditures supported 19 local jobs and had a cumulative economic benefit of $2 million, according to a news release.
“We’re delighted to share the story of the Garfield family and to provide a valuable educational experience for all visitors,” Site Manager Todd Arrington stated in the release. “We also feature the park as a way to introduce visitors to northeast Ohio and all it has to offer.
“National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy, returning more than $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service, and it’s a big factor in our local economy as well,” the release stated. “We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities.
“We are honored to be here to interpret President Garfield’s life and look forward to many more years of being part of the northeast Ohio community.”
The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by Matthew Flyr and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service. The report shows $23.9 billion of direct spending by 312 million park visitors nationwide, the release stated.
This spending supported 378,000 jobs nationally. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $50.3 billion.
Lodging expenses account for the largest share of visitor spending nationwide, totaling about $9 billion in 2022. Locally, visitors to James A. Garfield National Historic Site spent $433,000 on lodging, according to the release.
Food expenses are the second largest spending area and visitors spent $4.6 billion in restaurants and bars and another $1.5 billion at grocery and convenience stores. In Northeast Ohio, visitors to the Garfield site spent about $337,000 in restaurants and $66,000 on groceries, the release stated.
Nationally, visitor spending on lodging supported more than 86,000 jobs and more than 62,000 jobs in restaurants. Visitor spending in the recreation industries supported more than 32,000 jobs and spending in retail supported nearly 20,000 jobs.
To learn more about national parks in Ohio and how the NPS works with Ohio communities to help preserve history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, visit www.nps.gov/ohio.
James A. Garfield National Historic Site is located at 8095 Mentor Ave.
