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A Half Century of Hits
As we look back at the past 50 years and forward to the next 50, many projects stand out for the unique ways in which local individuals and communities have protected and improved their quality of life by advocating for, designing, creating, using, and stewarding public open space. Herewith, a story—in pictures of and quotes about—50 notables, in no particular order.
By Deborah Williams
Published September 15, 2023
We combed through thousands of project pages on this website, reviewed archived feature stories here and in past issues of Land&People, and surveyed staff and board members to create this list of 50 TPL projects, programs, and resources without which America’s communities would look much different. Not to pat ourselves—and you, our donors—on the backs, but this is a rather impressive and inspiring list of accomplishments, don’t you think?
Imagine how much more we can do in the next 50 years with your continued support.
CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERLANDS
“When it comes to access to nature, what we’ve seen across the country is a pattern of disenfranchisement, particularly when it comes to Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, [and] low-income communities. I’ve seen Black people, people of color, people representative of the diversity of communities in Atlanta and in Georgia—coming out and enjoying natural spaces.” —Corina Newsome, community engagement manager, Georgia Audobon
ESTATE MAHO BAY
“I bet Rockefeller would be proud.” —Mark Hardgrove, superintendent of Virgin Islands National Park. The largest single addition to the Virgin Islands National Park since Lawrence Rockefeller’s founding donation in 1956, the 225 acres that TPL protected includes one of the Caribbean’s most spectacular beaches.
BLACK HISTORY AND CULTURE
“It’s so easy for ghosts, wisdom, traditions, and all the vibrancy of a community to get trapped in unused land. But if we can bring to that place an intentionality and understanding of what communities need today, and an awareness of what that place has meant in the past, then you have a cultural upwelling. The churning in that space where the past meets today’s needs allows people and communities to thrive.” —Ben Jealous, TPL Board of Directors and Black History and Culture advisory board
MOUNTAINS TO SOUND GREENWAY
"Early on, this program was about preserving big swaths of forests and farms so that we didn't lose this cultural value. But recently, it's really about ensuring that we are protecting those last pieces that are super important for access, for habitat, for climate resilience." —David Patton, associate vice president for TPL’s national Lands initiative and field programs
COMMUNITY SCHOOLYARDS® PROGRAM
“The kids love digging in the rain garden,” Devine said “There are students whose love for science and nature is cultivated in that schoolyard. And a lot of them want to stay after dismissal and go back on weekends. Before the renovation, the schoolyard immediately emptied out.” —Dennis Devine, parent at Alexander Adaire Elementary School in Philadelphia
KANEWAI SPRING
“It was the most beautiful noise: water rippling from the spring, through the stone gate, and out into the ancient fishpond,” he remembers. “It meant the water was flowing here again. To know that, after all the work and love that’s going into restoring the spring, I got chicken skin.” —Chris Cramer, president of the Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center
BALD MOUNTAIN POND
“It’s a classic Maine adventure . . . one of those experiences that really makes your jaw drop. The whole reason why people fall in love with the Appalachian Trail extends far beyond the narrow footpath. Where you have this old-growth forest, these big views and these big lakes, expanding the buffer of protected area is really important so that people can immerse themselves in wilderness.” — J.T. Horn, Trust for Public Land’s national Trails initiative director
DEER CREEK BEACH
“This property has been coveted by conservation organizations for many years. The land was owned by a private individual and eyed by commercial developers for decades; the property could have been snatched up and built on. I’m standing on what could [have been] the front yard or backyard of someone’s private luxury estate, but thanks to the generous donors of Trust for Public Land and to the incredible investment of the state of California, this land is no longer for sale.” —Guillermo Rodriguez, vice president and California state director of Trust for Public Land
10-MINUTE WALK
“There’s a lot of conversation and drive to design ‘complete neighborhoods’ or ‘15- or 20-minute neighborhoods’ that are designed to give residents convenient, even car-free access to the places and services they use every day, such as grocery stores, restaurants, healthcare, and schools. The 10-minute-walk-to-a-park ideal is a vital element in those models, with parks providing multiple benefits to communities and serving as a key differentiator for cities.” —Bianca Shulaker, Trust for Public Land’s park initiative lead and senior director of the 10-Minute Walk program
EMMETT TILL CAMPUS
“We have an enormous opportunity to expand the field of Black historic preservation, moving beyond the stereotypical narratives rooted in racism, slavery, and pain to tell a more complete history that highlights the resistance, self-determination, and joy of African Americans. We need more public spaces where Americans—specifically Black Americans—can take their families and leave feeling proud.” —Dr. Jocelyn Imani, TPL’s national director of Black history and culture.
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK
“Saguaros grow nowhere else in the world. We’ve always seen it as sacred. As tribal members, we’ve always seen saguaro as family, as people. That comes in creation stories and our songs. We have much respect for the saguaro. We don’t do damage or over-harvest.” —Tanisha Tucker, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, who still harvest saguaro fruits within the National Park
LAKEVIEW TERRACE
“Most housing authorities require income caps for Section 8 assistance that is designed to help low-income families secure safe and affordable homes. Most people who live in the Lakeview units are at a threshold that’s less than Cleveland’s median income, which is roughly $33,000. So there’s an inherent equity focus that the housing agencies are built around. For us, the collaboration makes total sense.” —Sean Terry, TPL’s state director in Ohio
COOK PARK
“We’re working toward a shared vision of a healthier, more equitable, more prosperous future on the Westside, which will be hard to do if environmental justice issues like flooding persist. The stormwater problems in this neighborhood are tied to health, they’re tied to property values, they’re tied to public safety and housing availability. You can’t address any of these challenges in isolation.” —John Ahmann, CEO of Westside Future Fund
THE 606
"Before we started, it was a barrier. It was a physical barrier between communities. Literally you couldn't get from one side to the other except if you went on the street. So there was literally a wall that separated you. I just never really thought about this, how when we opened it, it became a connector instead of a divider." —Steve Baird, TPL Board of Directors
L BAR PROPERTY
“[Mount Taylor near the L Bar property is] significant to Acoma in terms of how we orient ourselves to the landscape. This particular mountain is associated with the cardinal direction of north, and there is associated religious and cultural significance tied to it. The purchase and protection of the L Bar property represent the potential for younger generations of Acoma children who have never seen those lands to now have a chance to get reacquainted with them.” —Theresa Pasqual, a program director of Pueblo of Acoma
ALOHA ‘ĀINA
"We are going back to our roots—literally. For the Hawaiians, everything was put into the ‘aina. You have to take care of it so that it will produce for you. And it’s the same with our community. We are a family. And you want to be there to pick each other up, knowing they will be there to pick you up when you need it." —Michelle Arasato, former intern at MA'O Organic Farm
KAHUKU KAWELA FOREVER
“It was symbolic that for everyone involved, the fight was much bigger than just this particular property on the North Shore. It was symbolic of the entire state of Hawai‘i having lost so many special places and shorelines and how important it was to preserve the places we do have left for the entire island population and beyond to enjoy.” —Doug Cole, director of the North Shore Community
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK
“We are taught certain facts in our classrooms, at home, and in our communities about Dr. King’s life, but a lot of times people are just unaware of the details that make Dr. King human. I’ve seen it so many times: when our visitors leave the park, they depart with a fuller, more accurate understanding the significant role Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. played in the American civil rights movement.” —Judy Forte, superintendent at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park
FRANK AND JOAN RANDALL PRESERVE
“The Juaneño Band of Mission Indians is...excited to see what the future holds in regaining an area for us to hold ceremony. Geŋa hold a special place in our hearts. We are thrilled to be able to share with the public the importance of this village, not only to the Acjachemen but to our plant and animal relatives as Cho’onom noneskinum (to all my relations).” —Chairwoman Heidi Lucero, CEO Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation
COMMUNITY FORESTS
Our first community forest project “led to a movement across northern New England, and now the country, to create close-to-home parks and forests in rural communities. These community ‘assets’ are being created near our schools, over our drinking water/aquifers, providing environmental education, sustainable timber harvesting, community gathering places, and much more. This work hits on our commitment to climate resiliency, equity of access, health, and the importance of community engagement and decision-making at the center of all our work.” —Rodger Krussman, TPL AVP of field operations
SOUTH CHICKAMAUGA CREEK GREENWAY
“My family can now ride from our home near Sterchi Farm to the downtown area, staying on the greenway entirely and avoiding congested roadways. This new section is a tremendous asset to our neighborhood and the broader community. The connectivity among urban, suburban, and natural outdoor spaces is truly remarkable.” —Walter Hodges, longtime resident
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
“Many people come to the gorge because it is a protected landscape. Many of the business owners, who were traditionally pro-development, see the competitive advantage [of the scenic area designation]. The future intertwined with protecting the landscape. Now, one of the prime things businesses look for is quality of life.” — Bowen Blair, chair of the Columbia River Gorge Commission
DUTCH JAKE'S PARK
"I visited with my mom and stepdad, and my mom struck up a conversation with a young mother whose kids were playing in the park. There's a very cool play structure there, and my mom was doing the proud parent 'my daughter works for the organization that helped build this' thing. The young mother told us how she didn't have anywhere she felt safe bringing her kids to play outside before the park's reopening and how glad she is to have this resource nearby. Dutch Jake's Park is in an area of Spokane with lower-income residents and less access to green space than other parts of the city. It really felt like park equity in action and made me proud to work for TPL." —Amy McCullough, TPL managing editor
YUROK TRIBAL LANDS
“To access these lands, we had to break the law. We had to cut gates. We had to go at night. We were criminals. If your culture has been deemed illegal, that really plays into how we view ourselves as individuals, as people, as a community.” —Frankie Joe Myers, vice chair of the Yurok Tribe
LAKE SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND
“At the heart of the most successful conservation projects is the community. The Hinsdale County community, from year-round residents in Lake City to second homeowners from around the country, really stepped up to make this acquisition happen.” —Jim Petterson, Colorado and Southwest region director for TPL
ALA KAHAKAI TRAIL
“For many years, pride was hard to come by in the Hawaiian community. We were looked down on, and we’ve suffered losses. But what we’re doing now—be it clearing the trail, using the land for traditional cultural practices, or going out to visit our ancestors—it brings back a lot of pride. It reminds us that our people can do great things.” —Dennis Hart, president of Ala Kahakai Trail Association
CAHUENGA PEAK/HOLLYWOOD SIGN
“Two things—the larger-than-life name HOLLYWOOD, and the pristine, rugged mountain—make this world-famous landmark a symbol of ingenuity and hope to millions of people. Every day, I see tourists posing for snapshots in Beachwood Canyon just below the sign.”— late Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge
PARKSCORE
“Cities are leaning into the data and working with partners to improve park access and investment—two key elements tracked in ParkScore. [It] provides important lessons from year to year that city leaders can adapt to meet local vision and priorities.” —Bianca Shulaker, TPL’s parks initiative lead and 10-Minute Walk senior director
WATTS SERENITY PARK
“I started by going down the street, telling as many people as would listen about what I had heard at the neighborhood council. That touched a lot of nerves because the neighborhood has always wanted this lot taken care of. I went and got a Spanish translator to include the Hispanic community. I went to the biggest church in our neighborhood and acquired a meeting place. I went all the way to city hall to tell them that nobody wants more houses here.” —Ronald “Kartoon” Antwine, Watts resident and community partner
LANDVOTE DATABASE
Every year, dozens of state and local governments vote to raise public funds in support of land conservation. Our LandVote Database is the premier source of information about these measures, bringing together the most comprehensive history of conservation finance measures on ballots across the country.
FLORIDA AMENDMENT 1
After leading the nation in funding for land conservation between 1990 and 2008, Florida abruptly turned off the spigot. In 2012, Trust for Public Land embarked on a bold campaign to amend the state constitution to create the largest state-level conservation funding initiative in U.S. history. TPL raised $3.5 million to qualify the measure for the 2014 ballot. The measure passed overwhelmingly at 75 percent. It’s projected to generate $20 billion for conservation.
NEZ PERCE PRECIOUS LANDS WILDLIFE AREA
“In 1997, TPL acquired and planned to convey 10,300 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Then one day, three members of the Nez Perce Tribe walked into the TPL office and [told us it is] sacred as the birthplace of the tribe’s Chief Joseph, the land had been claimed a century earlier by the U.S. government, who forced the Nez Perce onto reservations. At that moment, our staff in Oregon realized that this land [shouldn’t go] to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It was somehow going to find its way to the tribe.” —former TPL CEO and President Will Rogers
LONG ISLAND GREENWAY
“The Long Island Greenway will serve not only as an economic and tourism draw for communities across the Island, but it will serve as a vital component of daily life for residents, allowing for a cleaner, safer mode of transportation.” —Carter Strickland, former vice president of the Mid-Atlantic region and New York State director at Trust for Public Land
INDIA BASIN WATERFRONT PARK
“The most significant unexpected benefit of the community engagement process has been the unique opportunity to envision a park plan that celebrates our diversity while honoring Black history. We have opened a conversation with our community that has empowered the voices of the folks that live and enjoy the space today. Together we are building a beautiful park for the future designed by the residents that live here now. ”– Jackie Flin, executive director, A. Philip Randolph Institute
Feeling Inspired?
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