Press Conference Announcing Key Findings from the 2025 Return on Environment Study

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 19, 2025

Who: Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure

What: Press Conference Announcing Key Findings from the 2025 Return on Environment Study

When: Tuesday, August 19, 2025 – 10:30 AM

Where: Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center 400 Belfast Road, Nazareth, PA 18064

[Northampton County, PA] – Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure announced today that the County’s 2025 Return on Environment study shows open space, parks, trails, and farmland generate more than $434 million in benefits every year.

“Here in Northampton County, we have always recognized that our natural lands, parks, and trails are more than just scenery; they are essential infrastructure,” said McClure. “Today, I am here to show you exactly what these investments are delivering, and the value is staggering.”

Since 2006, Northampton County has invested more than $20 million to safeguard open spaces. Since 2018 alone, the County has awarded $9.2 million in grants, preserved over 600 acres, and added another 339 acres to its park system.

Key findings of the report include:

• $37 million in annual savings from replenishing water supply
• $48 million in natural flood protection each year
• $85 million in air pollution removed annually by trees
• $21.7 billion added to total home value across the County
• $436 million generated annually by outdoor recreation, supporting nearly 2,000 jobs
• $38.3 million in agricultural output supporting more than 700 jobs
• $9–20 million in healthcare savings each year from active lifestyles connected to parks and trails

“The return on our environment is not just ecological, it is financial,” McClure emphasized. “It’s clear: people want to live near green spaces, and that demand translates into measurable economic benefits.”

“These numbers confirm what we have always believed: protecting land is not an expense; it is one of the smartest investments we can make,” McClure concluded. “Every dollar we put into open space pays dividends in cleaner water, healthier residents, stronger farms, higher property values, and a more resilient economy.”