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Parks for People -- New York City

Photo by: Marni Horwitz

In New York City, nearly 90 percent of the lowest income neighborhoods fail to meet a commonly accepted standard of adequate open space (2.5 acres per 1,000 residents).

The Trust for Public Land's Parks for People initiative works to ensure that everyone-in particular, every child-enjoys access to a park, playground, or open space. Parks for People -- New York City brings TPL's land for people mission to the nation's largest city. Since 1978, the Trust for Public Land has helped create, expand, protect, and steward more than 250 parks, gardens, and natural areas in New York City. This work represents an investment of more than $200 million in land purchases and in the design, construction, and stewardship of these important community resources.

TPL carries out its work in New York City through three main initiatives:

Playground Program

Protection and support of community gardens

The acquisition and preservation of open space, particularly along the waterfront

TPL depends on many partnerships and the support and generosity of individuals, foundations, and businesses to achieve our land for people mission. Please contact us to help protect land in your community, or to support our effort.

Photo by: Pedro Diez

Identifying the Need

New York has beautiful parks, but too few are in the city's low-income neighborhoods. According to the City of New York Department of Planning, in 16 of the 18 lowest income Community Board Districts residents have less than the common urban open space standard, which is 2.5 acres of open space per thousand residents. Maps developed by the TPL clearly show where the need for safe, accessible parkland is greatest and this is where TPL focuses its efforts to create new access to playgrounds, community gardens, and open space. The need for playgrounds and parks is most acute in low-income, high-density neighborhoods where children have few recreational alternatives.

Updated 4/2008