BUILT ENVIRONMENT, LANDSCAPING & CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE
From turf and nursery stock to golf course trees and public landscaping, this category captures how agricultural goods support civic infrastructure and property value.
Trees, sod, and plants for parks, medians, and civic beautification
Public infrastructure tied to schoolyards, city landscaping, and streetscapes
Water conservation programs and regional beautification efforts
Nursery sales for HOA developments and commercial design
Golf courses, municipal contracts, and real estate aesthetics
1. Ag Census Interactive Maps
DATA HIGHLIGHTS:
Average farm asset value exceeds $3.1 million (land + equipment), reflecting capital anchored in rural and suburban landscapes.
7.8% of all Riverside land is dedicated to farming, shaping development and zoning.
Nursery and turf operations are closely tied to civic beautification and land-use policy.
2. Dean Runyan Associates. (2024). Temecula Valley Wine Country economic impact report
Data Highlights:
Temecula Valley’s wine tourism drove $1.1 B in visitor spending in 2024, including $296 M spent directly on lodging, dining, and landscape-dependent experiences. This report highlights the civic-agricultural connection central to region-making and growth.
Validates ag-civic landscapes as engines for $1.1 B in tourism revenue.
Details local tax and earning generation tied to vineyard experiences.
Supports investment in scenic infrastructure as ag economy catalysts.
3. Golf-Related Economic Boost: American Express Tournament (2025)
Data Highlights:
The 2025 American Express PGA tournament in La Quinta and Coachella Valley delivered a $25 million economic boost, drawing large crowds and enhancing local hospitality and tourism. This annual PGA Tour event showcases how marquee golf tournaments directly stimulate regional economies. It reinforces the strong interconnection between golf, agriculture/livability, and service sectors.
Infusion of $25 million into La Quinta & Coachella Valley economy
Amplified hotel bookings, dining, transport, and local business revenue during event week
Showcases synergy between golf and broader regional service infrastructure (hotels, restaurants)
4. California's Working Landscape Economic Impact
Data Highlights:
A 2019 UC ANR & California Economic Summit report highlights that California’s “working landscape”—which includes agricultural support and landscaping—made up 6.4% of the state’s economy in 2018. The report shows this sector supports over 1.5 million jobs, paying $85 billion in wages, and generating $333 billion in sales statewide. This underscores the critical economic role of landscapes beyond direct crop production
1.5 million jobs supported in California across agriculture and landscaping sectors.
$85 billion in labor income for workers in the working landscape.
$333 billion in total sales, contributing to 6.4% of the state’s economic output.
5. The California Golf Economy (SRI International, 2023 PDF)
Data Highlights:
California’s golf economy generated approximately $15.1 billion in total economic output in 2006, including 926 courses, nearly 160,000 jobs, and $4.8 billion in wage income. This positions golf as a major sector, rivaling biotech and wineries in the state economy. With strong indirect and induced effects, it spurs construction, tourism, retail, and real estate.
$6.9 BQ direct revenues → $15.1 BQ total statewide impact
926 courses + 109 ranges + 73 mini‑golf = 160,000 jobs
$1.2 BQ in tourism spending alone in 2006
6. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources – California’s Working Landscape (2019)
Data Highlights:
This report by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and the California Economic Summit defines California’s “working landscape” as encompassing not only farm and ranch production but also supporting industries like environmental restoration, forestry, agricultural services, and landscaping. In total, the working landscape generated $333 billion in sales, supported 1.5 million jobs, and paid out $85 billion in labor income statewide. These industries accounted for 6.4% of California’s total economic output and underscore the expansive reach of agriculture-related systems in the state.
$333 billion in total sales across agriculture, landscaping, forestry, environmental management, and supporting services.
1.5 million jobs—nearly 1 in 15 California jobs—are tied to the working landscape.
$85 billion in labor income shows the high value-added contribution of support services like turf management, irrigation, horticulture, and equipment manufacturing.
7. USDA Office of Inspector General – Semiannual Report to Congress (FY 2025, First Half)
Data Highlights:
This official oversight report from the USDA OIG summarizes agency audits, investigations, and program reviews conducted between October 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. It highlights areas of vulnerability in USDA spending, including compliance enforcement, loan program fraud, and oversight of farm assistance programs. The report also emphasizes systemic risks within crop insurance, rural development, and food safety—sectors that directly support the agricultural economy but are often undercounted in regional economic impact studies.
Identifies $354.8 million in questioned costs and $28.9 million in recoveries, highlighting inefficiencies in ag support programs.
Includes investigations into crop insurance fraud, which can distort economic reporting and funding streams in counties like Riverside.
Supports the role of compliance infrastructure (e.g., inspections, auditing, enforcement) as a necessary and economically significant ag-support sector.
8. NRPA / George Mason University – The Economic Impact of Parks (2023)
Data Highlights:
Local park and recreation agencies nationwide generated $201 billion in economic activity in 2021, supporting over 1 million jobs and creating $63 billion in labor income. These figures illustrate the outsized economic contributions of parks beyond basic recreation
Supports 1.06 million US jobs, including full-time and part-time positions.
$102 billion in operations spending, $99 billion in capital investment.
Drives productivity by boosting labor income and fueling “induced” economic spillovers in housing, retail, health services.
9. Economic Contributions of Public Landscaping in California
Data Highlights:
A recent California ReLeaf report (2025) finds that municipal and county governments employed approximately 1,715 people in urban forestry and landscaping across California. These public green teams, tasked with maintaining parks and civic landscapes, represent a substantial investment in community infrastructure. Their work supports local employment and enhances urban environments—a critical service layer often overlooked in traditional economic assessments.
1,715 public employees working on urban forestry and community landscaping.
Governments allocate resources to green public space maintenance.
Landscaping supports infrastructure resilience and local job creation.
10. Southern California Golf Association (SCGA): The Massive Economic and Charitable Impacts of Golf in the Coachella Valley
Data Highlights:
This SCGA report highlights how golf in the Coachella Valley supports approximately 11,500 jobs across the region. It reveals a local economic multiplier effect—every dollar spent on golf generates an additional $0.55 in other spending, underscoring golf's significant influence beyond the fairways. The report also emphasizes advances in sustainable water management among courses, aligning environmental stewardship with economic benefit.
11,500 jobs supported directly by the golf industry in Coachella Valley.
$0.55 return in regional spending for every $1 invested in golf activities.
Water-efficiency innovations on courses reduce environmental costs and support sustainable operations.
