URBAN PARKS
DIVERSE, ACCESSIBLE URBAN PARKS HELP CITIES THRIVE
Green spaces within cities are as important as those surrounding
them. Parks take up carbon emissions, keep cities cooler, and help
manage storm runoff. They give children a much-needed place to
play outside. And they serve as a community living room—a place to
relax, celebrate, and hold events. We can help Bay Area cities thrive
by making sure all residents have safe, clean parks nearby.
Public Support
California voters care: they
approved nearly $13 billion in
conservation funding—including
money for parks and playgrounds—
from 1988 to 2008.
Key Indicator
62% of Bay Area children
under 15 do not live within
walking distance of a park, and
low-income neighborhoods
are particularly underserved,
according to the Trust for
Public Land.
Opportunities >>>> Provide funding to maintain parks—and involve residents in their care—to keep parks safe, clean, and inviting. Support many types of green spaces—from urban creeks to Require that parks be located no more than a 10-minute walk |
The Trust for Public Land’s Bay Area Park Equity Analysis reveals that many communities throughout the region lack easy access to parks. The darker the red on this map, the greater the need.