The ParkScore™ Project Methodology
The Trust for Public Land ParkScore™ Project analyzes public access to existing parks and open space in major cities in the United States. The analysis uses a two-step approach:
- identifies gaps in park availability within city limits, and
- overlays a demographic profile to assess the most urgent need for parkland within those gaps.
The gaps in the park system are calculated using a 10-minute walk standard—assessed as a half-mile service area around parks using the street network to determine walkable distance. Features such as highways, freeways, and interstates are not considered viable means of walkable travel and therefore are considered barriers to access.
Demographic overlays to create park need maps are based on ESRI 2010 block group census forecasts for:
- percentage of population 19 years and younger (above mean percentage = very high need, below = high need)
- percentage of households with income less than 75% of median annual income for the city (above mean percentage = very high need, below = high need)
- percentage of population above and below mean city population density as measured by people per acre (above mean = very high need, below = high need)
To create the composite park need map we've assigned the following weights to each demographic characteristic:
- Percentage of population 19 years and younger weighted at 25%
- Percentage of households with income less than 75% of median weighted at 25%
- Population density (people per acre) weighted at 50%
