National park designation moves area "from the minor leagues to the majors"

According to “Conservation and Development: Economic Impacts of the US National Park System” by Andrea Szabo and Gergely Ujhelyi of the Economics Department at the University of Houston, life is different in the major leagues. Their study found that redesignating an existing unit of the NPS as a national park normally brings an increase in local employment, as well as increases in income, government spending and tourism. “The economic benefits of being a gateway community to a national park extends beyond tourism,” she said. “It also brings with it the opportunity to attract entrepreneurs and new businesses, as well as retain current residents.”