The Land and People Lab
The Land and People Lab is TPL’s “think and do” tank that advances TPL’s work through the power of evidence. From geospatial science to ecology, from economics to epidemiology, from social science to urban planning — we collect and analyze data, generate evidence, and get that evidence where it needs to go to influence policy and practice — all with the aim of advancing TPL’s strategic commitments to health, equity, climate action, and community.
The Lab is privileged to have the support and expertise of a group of individuals with expertise in community and environmental health, geospatial science, and urban planning.
Parks and green spaces are our common ground. In a time when the United States—and, indeed, much of the world—feels increasingly polarized across political, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines, parks offer a much needed space for unification.
Whether you want help closing the outdoor equity gap or planning a new park, need guidance about green infrastructure, or seek insights about the value of conserved lands, our experts are ready to work with you.
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ParkServe® Data
We created the country’s most extensive database of local parks in nearly 14,000 cities, towns, and communities to measure equitable access to green space and identify priority areas that need more parks and trails.
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ParkScore® Index
Our ParkScore index is the most comprehensive comparison of park systems across the U.S. Updated every year, ParkScore ranks 100 of the most populated cities in the country in five categories: equity, access, investment, amenities, and acreage.
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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.
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Conservation Almanac
Created to assess the impacts of conservation efforts, Conservation Almanac allows you to discover, analyze, and map the results of federal, state, and local funding for conservation since 1998.
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National Conservation Easement Database
NCED gathers records from both land trusts and public agencies in a public-private partnership.
This data helps organizations plan more strategically, identify opportunities for collaboration, advance public accountability, and raise awareness of what’s happening in conservation.
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Conservation Carbon Map
This tool helps people make informed decisions about locations with high potential for protecting stored carbon and increasing carbon uptake.
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Each year, Trust for Public Land compiles data on parks across the nation’s 100 most populous cities, which represent about 20% of the U.S. population. This dataset aggregates park inventories – investment, acreage, and amenities – across all public and private organizations in each city, making it the most comprehensive dataset of its kind.
