University of Wisconsin–Madison

Recreation

Written by Walker Kahn and Griffin Beronio

What's the Problem?

Quality parks and greenspaces are critical for creating and sustaining equitable and resilient communities. However, Americans have less access to parks and greenspace than other comparable countries, with this access being deeply unequal. Most notably, low-income communities and communities of color have fewer recreational facilities than white or high-income communities. Even when spaces do exist in under-resourced communities, there are frequently issues related to maintenance, safety, access, and transportation. 

Lack of recreational opportunities and greenspace has significant ramifications for economic development and public health. Proximity to parks and recreational spaces is one of the strongest predictors of physical activity for children and helps children and adults address obesity and other chronic diseases. Further, parks and greenspace increase real estate value, business activity, and tax revenue. Studies have shown that property value decreases with every foot farther from concentrated green space, with this especially holding true for low-income communities and communities of color. In many cases, increased property values are larger than the cost of creating and maintaining parks and recreational areas.

What are People Currently Doing?

Improving park and green space planning requires cities to collect data and develop performance metrics related to investment levels, maintenance, and accessibility. San Francisco’s park maintenance scores evaluate metrics related to park cleanliness, safety, and readiness for use. Minneapolis’ 20-Year Neighborhood Park Plan annually ranks community parks on metrics like population density and crime. Planning must incorporate an equity framework, like Charleston’s 10-Minute Walk Policy Park Equity Framework, which establishes the goals of (1) having a park a short walk’s distance from every city residence, and (2) creating equity in park accessibility, funding, maintenance, and management. Stakeholders’ input is crucial to equity in planning: Baton Rouge developed engagement policies to improve community input, and Washington DC’s Equitable Development Plan for the 11th St Bridge Park fostered collaboration between residents, policymakers, and business owners to ensure that park development did not result in the displacement of long-term residents. The Trust for Public Land has created a framework for developing high-quality public park systems, including a clear expression of purpose; an ongoing planning and community involvement process; sufficient assets in land, staffing, and equipment; equitable access; safety from crime and physical hazards; and the identification of benefits beyond the boundaries of the park.

Localities can improve park access in historically underserved communities through land-use reforms, joint-use agreements, and improved park safety. Dallas’ Klyde Warren Park, an urban park built on a three-block stretch of downtown freeway, provided one example of how cities re-think land use to create non-traditional parks. Municipalities can also reserve public spaces for recreational use: Los Angeles temporarily converts sections of road into “Play Streets” exclusively for pedestrians, while Baltimore has established a framework for permanently ‘greening’ vacant lots and underutilized property. Shared-use or joint-use agreements grant local communities access to recreational spaces operated by schools or other public agencies. Hernando, MS established joint use agreements between the city and the school district, and funded grants to improve facilities and incentivize participation. Similar agreements in Tucson, AZ improved park safety and decreased vandalism while expanding recreational opportunities for communities deficient of play space.

City investment in parks and green space can drive real estate speculation and displace longtime community members. Cities can manage this ‘green gentrification’ by implementing park-related anti-displacement strategies, such as the joint development of parks and affordable housing, binding community benefits agreements, and collaboration with local housing advocates. A study of Philadelphia’s park system found that parks increased property tax revenue by enhancing the value of nearby properties and saved the city millions in pollution and health-related costs. However, parks in gentrifying areas of the city were less publicly accessible than those in wealthy neighborhoods. Los Angeles’ Slauson & Wall Village improved park access and housing affordability by creating a new park and more than 100 affordable family homes within a transit rich area. Now, Los Angeles is working with the Los Angeles Regional Open Space and Affordable Housing Collaborative to pursue other joint development projects that preserve the affordability of green developments and link them to public transit options to improve accessibility.

Municipalities can fund equitable park expansion projects by implementing assessments that target the windfall value created for real estate owners by public investment in new green spaces. Park impact fees (PIFs) implemented by Clark County, WA give developers the choice to pay into a fund for creating and maintaining parks or creating parks within their project. San Diego also assessed impact fees on new developments to fund public facility maintenance. Sustainable City Code provides additional resources on impact fees, explaining how they can fund habitat conservation as well park maintenance and management. Voters in Portland approved the Parks Local Option Levy, a five year annual property tax which funds services like park maintenance, recreation programs, and tree-planting initiatives.

The ProGov21 database features model laws and model ordinances designed to promote and protect equitable access to recreation. For example, the EPA’s Model Ordinance-Open Space Development mandates that the amount of open or green space in a community increases with the number of housing units to ensure that communities establish and maintain open space even as they become more densely populated.

Taking it to the Next Level

Well-developed parks and greenspace are one of the most significant tools available to municipal governments for improving the local environment. Trees and plants in parks directly remove air pollutants (such as dust, ozone, and auto emissions) from the local environment. Parks can help offset the effects of climate change and heat islands (created by dense buildings and human-generated heat): parks reduce temperatures within a half-mile radius by as much as six degrees. This temperature reduction reduces the energy used to cool nearby buildings, reducing carbon emissions and energy costs, creating huge economic benefits for residents and businesses. Well-designed parks reduce the costs and impacts of stormwater runoff, and help control urban flooding. In sum, parks and green space are the rare triple-threat that simultaneously improve public health, economic development, and the environment.

Helpers, Allies, and Other Useful Organizations

  • ChangeLab Solutions provides whitepapers on improving public health through better access to recreation, exercise, and high-quality nutrition.

  • The Trust for Public Land develops parks and recreation policy and partners with cities to build parks and protect public land to ensure that everyone has access to outdoor recreation space.

  • National Recreation and Parks Association is the leading non-profit dedicated to building strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation.

  • Researchers at the University of California Berkeley (especially the departments of Environmental Design and Public Health) have helped write numerous local wage and benefits ordinances as well as conducted important research of community benefits agreements.

  • The Mayors Innovation Project provides a wealth of resources for cities pursuing a high road development strategy as well as a network to learn and share with.

 

Mayor's Innovation home page

Mayors Innovation Project, our sister organization, is a national learning network for mayors committed to shared prosperity, environmental sustainability, and efficient democratic government.

Visit MayorsInnovation.org

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