Over the past year, conversations about parks, public space, and community investment have taken Troyer Group around the Country to many different audiences. Through a series of professional conference presentations that highlighted the intersection of community infrastructure and economics, the concept of Parkonomics has become a platform for a much larger dialogue about how communities define value, measure impact, and make informed decisions about their public spaces.
These conversations reached a national audience through four major professional gatherings: the ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture in New Orleans, the Twin States ASLA Conference in Gulf Shores, the APA Indiana Conference in South Bend, and two sessions at the IPRA Parks Conference in Muncie. While each event had its own regional context, a consistent theme emerged. Communities everywhere are looking for better ways to articulate the economic, social, and long-term returns generated by parks and recreation investments.
Why Parkonomics Resonates Beyond One State
Parkonomics is rooted in a simple but powerful idea. Parks are not amenities to be justified only when budgets allow. They are essential community infrastructure that influence economic development, workforce attraction, public health, environmental resilience, and overall quality of life. Across the country, park professionals, planners, and designers are being asked to demonstrate these outcomes more clearly and more convincingly than ever before.
The strong engagement at national conferences confirmed that the need for improved economic metrics is universal. Attendees were not just interested in funding challenges. They were focused on how to quantify value, communicate return on investment, and align park planning with broader community goals. Parkonomics provided a framework for shifting the conversation from cost to impact and from short-term budgeting to long-term community value.
President Jonathon Geels and Director of Operations Bryan Tanner at the ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture in New Orleans
A Reflection of Troyer Group’s Passion
Sharing Parkonomics on a national stage reflects Troyer Group’s passion for the work we do and the communities we serve. These presentations were not about promoting a single project or approach. They were about contributing to the profession by elevating how parks and public spaces are understood and measured.
That passion shows up in a willingness to engage, to listen, and to adapt. Every conference brought new perspectives and new questions, reinforcing the idea that meaningful solutions come from continuous learning and open dialogue. By participating in these conversations, Troyer Group continues to invest in the future of parks and the people who plan, design, and manage them.
Together We Will Create Better Outcomes
At the heart of Parkonomics is collaboration. The most effective park systems are built through partnerships among planners, landscape architects, municipal leaders, and community members. That same collaborative spirit defines Troyer Group’s Together we will mindset. Each presentation emphasized that no single discipline or agency can fully capture the value of parks alone. Strong outcomes require shared metrics, shared language, and shared goals. When communities work together to understand the full impact of parks, they are better positioned to make decisions that are financially sound, socially meaningful, and environmentally responsible.
Living Our Vision Through Thought Leadership
These national presentations reinforce Troyer Group’s Vision. Together, we will create lasting, positive impacts for our communities, our clients, and our team members through our exceptional services, our innovative projects, and our service-oriented mindset. By advancing Parkonomics beyond Indiana, Troyer Group is helping shape a broader conversation about how communities invest in themselves. The work does not end at a conference podium. It continues through better planning, clearer metrics, and stronger partnerships that ensure parks remain vital, valued, and sustainable for generations to come.