Visitors to New Mexico's state parks bring fishing tackle, boats, campers and hiking boots. They also bring cash, boosting the economy and creating jobs, said a New Mexico State University natural resource economist.
People buy groceries, gas, bait and fishing licenses and stay at hotels and motels.
So some parts of the state are better off as a consequence of the parks. Information about the economic impact of outdoor recreation in New Mexico is important for making decisions about the best use of the state's natural resources, which also produce considerable economic impact from timber production, mining, ranching, power production and irrigated agriculture. Ward's economic data comes from a survey of 5,000 state park visitors during summer 1995. Some qualities that make parks attractive include water levels in the lakes and modern facilities like restrooms and showers. Ward said money the state legislature spends to improve facilities at the parks has a major effect on attracting visitors.