Creating Parks
One in three Americans doesn’t have access to a park within a 10-minute walk of home. You can help us change that. Support Our Work
We’re providing more people with places to play, exercise, unplug, and connect with their community members—with support from allies like you.
Nearly 75 percent of Americans agree that parks are essential to public health, and studies show that time spent outside reduces stress, depression, and anxiety while promoting better sleep. Parks can also strengthen communities, boost local economies, promote climate resiliency, and improve air quality—urban forests remove 711,000 tons of air pollution annually.
We have an urgent opportunity to reclaim and revitalize our cities through parks. Read our report.
We’re partnering with a powerful group that understands the value parks provide: mayors. Nearly 300 mayors, representing 57 million people in cities nationwide, have signed on to support our vision that everyone has a park within a 10-minute walk of home.
No organization has worked more deeply to create parks and open green spaces than we have. Since 1972, we’ve engaged hundreds of communities nationwide to advance the development of over 500 parks, putting a green space within a 10-minute walk of nearly 9 million people. See our plan to create high-quality parks in communities across the country.
Our ParkScore® index rates park systems across the U.S. by comparing five categories: equity, access, investment, amenities, and acreage. Data from this powerful tool gives communities the information they need to help close the park equity gap. See how your city stacks up and where help is needed. You might be surprised by what you learn.
Explore our stories about the impact our work is having across the country.
Lexington, Kentucky, and other cities are taking a critical look at land use, planning, and funding policies with fresh eyes. As they tackle the challenges of rapid growth, they’re simultaneously re-thinking how to develop and grow in a more equitable way. TPL is helping them.
