Park Listeners

Imagine not being able to answer survey questions that directly impacted your neighborhood because of a language barrier. Without your voice being heard, the park your neighborhood needed was created without your input. This can often be the experience for community members of marginalized neighborhoods where English is not the first language. That’s why at Trust for Public Land the participatory design process is integral to our work.

Through our Park Listeners program, we can foster trust by building authentic relationships within communities, ensuring everyone is heard, feels valued, and is included in a green space’s design process.  By listening and encouraging an open dialogue, the program strengthens bonds and builds trust between neighbors and their local parks.

Our initiative is designed to create adaptable, community-driven strategies that can be replicated to shape future park projects across the country. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we emphasize flexibility and enable Park Listeners   to meet communities where they are. As the program continues to grow, the Park Listeners have built frameworks for reaching out to neighbors, grounded in genuine understanding rather than assumptions. This approach creates an environment where community members feel heard and seen, ensuring their voices shape the park development process.

The program also highlights the reciprocal nature of community engagement—those involved in Park Listeners gain as much from the community as they give. By listening, understanding, and empowering marginalized voices, we create trust and ensure people feel valued in shaping their surroundings that   better connect us all to the joys and benefits of nature.