Our Commitments:
Equity
We believe that when all people have equal access to the outdoors, communities are stronger, healthier, more resilient, and more equitable.
And yet in America today, 100 million people—including 28 million kids—don’t have a park within a 10-minute walk of home. What’s more, disparities in park access fall along racial and economic lines. And in rural areas, counties with less access to public land rank lower in measures of income growth, employment, and population growth.
Working hand in hand with communities, we support the efforts of historically marginalized groups to gain access to high quality parks and outdoors spaces. Our donors and supporters are energizing efforts to put parks and public lands to work to solve some of today’s most urgent challenges to community health, equity, and climate resilience.
Together we can close the park equity gap. Sign up for the latest news about this important work.
How we're closing the outdoor equity gap
The Equitable Communities Fund
Right now, we are raising philanthropic support through the Equitable Communities Fund to energize and accelerate the efforts of 62 historically marginalized communities to create parks and open space.
The Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act
We're leading a coalition of more than 300 nonprofits, community groups, and companies calling for the Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act—a $500 million investment in local parks to be included in a future infrastructure package. Join the movement by signing our petition.
Our ParkScore® index
Our ParkScore index is the most comprehensive evaluation of parks systems in the 100 most populated U.S. cities. Published annually, the index measures park systems according to five categories: access, investment, income, acreage, and equity. Our data also reveals park access for nearly every city and town in the United States, providing communities the information needed to close the park equity gap.
Catalyze the Preservation of Black History and Culture Sites
Just 2 percent of nationally registered historic sites focus on the experience of Black Americans. We're working to change that. Help us build a more equitable and inclusive future by supporting a series of critical projects that preserve the land and spaces that represent the Black American experience.
How we're working within communities
We are the national leader in the movement to ensure that everyone in the country has access to a high-quality park close to home.
- We work with each community to guarantee that investments in parks benefit everyone—especially the people and families who have the least access to quality parks today.
- We champion thoughtful community engagement practices, listening to all stakeholders to cocreate a shared vision and prioritize park investments. As people learn more about the benefits of parks and open space, we learn more about how parks can help them achieve their aspirations for stronger neighborhoods.
- In cities, we bring creativity to the table to help prevent the displacement that can come with development. We champion real-world policy solutions and strategies that create new homes for working people, promote community self-determination, and drive widespread, equitable investment.
- In rural areas we catalyze solutions that fit specific local needs. We are especially proud of our work to restore ancestral native lands to their original caretakers. To date, we have worked with more than 70 tribes and Indigenous groups to protect more than 200,000 acres from California to Washington to Hawaiʻi.
For corporate sponsorship and partnership opportunities, contact [email protected].
