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Americans Voted Yes for Water, Wildlife, and Way of Life in 2024
At TPL, we help communities design and win ballot measures that create new public funding for parks and conservation. In 2024, we supported 23 ballot measures in 11 states. Voters across the nation approved all 23 of those. Together, these measures have generated over $16 billion in voter-approved public funding for parks, climate resilience projects, and land conservation.
Over and over, we’re told that Americans are impossibly divided. But when it comes to parks and land conservation, the story is different. We all agree that clean air, clean water, protected wildlife habitat, and time outside is neither a red issue nor a blue issue. It’s green. Outside, our differences get smaller, and our smiles get bigger. This year’s state and local elections bear that out once again.
“The 2024 election demonstrates voters’ continued commitment to a healthier, more resilient future for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. Once again, investment in parks and the outdoors has shown that these issues transcend partisan politics. TPL is proud to lead this national movement to unite Americans for a better future.”
—Will Abberger, Director of Conservation Finance at Trust for Public Land
In 2024, voters across the country showed a powerful commitment to parks, public lands, and outdoor access for all. With the passage of measures like California’s climate bond and conservation initiatives in Colorado, Minnesota, Georgia, and New Mexico, it’s clear that Americans deeply value our natural spaces as places to gather, recharge, and connect.
Read about the measures that TPL supported in 2024 and which ones voter’s approved.
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ApprovedProposition 2ApprovedProposition 4ApprovedMeasure USApprovedMeasure Q Water and Wildfire Protection Initiative
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ApprovedBallot Issue 7AApprovedMeasure 2AApprovedBallot Issue 4AApprovedMeasure 2A
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ApprovedLand Conservation Referendum to Protect Water Quality, Wildlife Habitat, Forests and FarmsApprovedClean Water Protection, Overdevelopment Prevention, Natural Area Preservation, Parks and Trails General Obligation Bond ReferendumApprovedMartin County Referendum Lands to Protect Water Quality, Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat One-half Percent Sales SurtaxApprovedBonds to Renew Environmental Lands Conservation Program and to Improve and Protect Water Quality
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ApprovedGeneral Obligation Bonds for Parks, Trails and Outdoor Recreational Areas
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ApprovedProposition To Issue General Obligation Bonds Of The Lake County Forest Preserve District In An Amount Not To Exceed $155,000,000ApprovedProposition to Increase the Limiting Rate for the McHenry County Conservation District
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ApprovedQuestion 4ApprovedReferendum Question No. 3
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ApprovedAmendment 1: Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Renewal
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ApprovedQuestion 3: Parks and RecreationApprovedMill Levy for Land, Water, and Natural Resources Conservation
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ApprovedCity of Kingston Proposition
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ApprovedQuestion 1 Special Sales and Use Tax
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ApprovedProposition 1: Extending Conservation Area Real Estate Excise Tax
The 2024 wins build on Trust for Public Land’s nearly 50-year history of connecting people to the outdoors and its 28-year legacy of conservation finance expertise, working alongside communities and legislatures to pass ballot initiatives, generating over $110 billion of voter-approved public funding for parks, open spaces, and clean air and water. We’ve achieved this remarkable milestone by passing 681 measures in 567 unique jurisdictions of all political leanings, benefitting nearly all Americans and proving that our work bridges partisan lines. Yet despite this success, parks and green spaces remain deeply underfunded. In fact, state and local spending on roads in a single year exceeds what we’ve achieved in three decades for parks.
In order to realize the full power and potential of conservation to connect everyone to the outdoors—hikers, hunters, bikers, anglers, birders, skiers, rafters, and many more—especially the 100 million people in the U.S. who still lack access to high-quality close-to-home outdoor spaces, we must continue to scale and leverage our momentum. When you vote for conservation and contribute to Trust for Public Land, you help expand access to nature, ensuring that all communities—rural, urban, and everywhere in between—benefit from safe, welcoming outdoor spaces that strengthen neighborhoods and foster connections.
*When a ballot measure authorizes a new tax (sales tax, property tax, etc.), we count the estimated revenue generated for the duration of the tax (for example, 10 years). When the tax is not limited to a specific term (continues in perpetuity), a duration of 20 years is used to estimate the total amount generated. For bonds, we count the face value of the bonds authorized, rather than the total cost of repaying the bonds with interest. Bonds typically are paid back over a 20–30 year period.
Passing ballot measures that result in real change is no easy task. To do it, we offer a comprehensive suite of campaign services on a case-by-case basis. These include campaign planning, management, and fundraising; selecting and directing pollsters and other consultants; writing and producing digital, direct-mail, television, and radio advertisements; overseeing public education and get-out-the-vote programs; and managing compliance with campaign finance and lobbying registration and reporting.
With Your Help, We’re Making a Big Impact
