[TPL] – Voters across the nation approved local and state ballot measures providing hundreds of millions of dollars for land conservation, parks, and restoration, The Trust for Public Land announced. Many of the ballot measures called for tax increases or bonds.

There were more than eighty local protection measures on the ballot and it appears the majority passed, said Will Rogers, President of The Trust for Public Land.

“Tonight, we saw again that while American voters are divided on many issues, parks and natural areas are an issue that we can all agree on.  Whether they were voting for ‘red’ or ‘blue’ candidates, voters are ‘green’ – they want local parks and close-to-home places for recreation and they’re willing to pay for them.”

In early returns, 13 of 18 measures on the ballot have been approved by voters, a passage rate of 72 percent.  A list of ballot measures with results so far is attached.

Earlier in 2016, 14 of 17 park and land conservation ballot measures passed, creating $3.3 billion for parks and open space.

“This approval rate isn’t surprising, since over the past 20 years, we’ve consistently seen that more than 75 percent of local and state conservation ballot measures are approved, often by landslide margins,” said Rogers, whose organization is the national leader in helping cities, counties, and states pass  funding measures for parks and land conservation.

* One major victory Tuesday came in Boston, where voters opted by a 64 percent to 36 percent to join Massachusetts’ Community Preservation Act, a statewide program which provides matching funds for local parks and open space, affordable housing, and historic preservation.  Boston voters approved a 1 percent surcharge on city property taxes that is estimated to raise $20 million annually.  Boston voters overwhelming voted for Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate for U.S. President.

Voters in Florida, Ohio, and Colorado showed their support for parks and conservation, approving ballot measures regardless of the choice for President.

* Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, overwhelmingly carried Lee County and Brevard County, Florida.  On the same ballot Lee County (84-16% and Brevard County (62-38%) voters approved  measures to provide funding for land conservation and restoration.

* In Alachua County, Florida, voter picked Hillary Clinton for President and also approved a ½-cent sales tax for parks and protecting environmentally sensitive land by 60-40%.

* Donald Trump easily won voter support in metro Cincinnati’s Clermont County, while voters there also overwhelmingly approved new funding for parks, by 63-37%

The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.  Millions of people live near a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year.  To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.

*This list contains measures with at least some funding for parks and open space protection. For more information, visit LandVote.org