Abstract

The Trust for Public Land ParkScore(TM) Project
Track: Parks, Natural Reserves, Fisheries, and Wildlife Management
Authors: Bob Heuer, Breece Robertson

The Trust for Public Land ParkScore™ Project is a ground-breaking effort to analyze how well parks and public open spaces in the 40 largest cities in the United States meet residents' needs for outdoor recreation and experience with nature. TPL is applying its award-winning GIS models to newly assembled data on neighborhood parks and resident demography to evaluate how well parks in the 40 largest cities are meeting the needs of residents. By showing how many residents are able to reach a park in a ten-minute walk, TPL's mapping technology pinpoints underserved neighborhoods, those neighborhoods short on parks, playgrounds, and natural areas. The model can be adjusted to recognize the special needs of certain demographic groups, such as children. The TPL ParkScore™ Project helps communities identify where to invest in new parks and provides a platform to compare park systems in different cities.