Assessing city’s plan of government and existing policies to identify where opportunities exist to update or create policies that advance park equity.
Technical Assistance
Park Equity Accelerator
The 10-Minute Walk Park Equity Accelerator (PEA) provides focused resources and technical assistance, partnership, and education to help cities move the needle on park equity. These focused, local engagements field-test policy ideas, gather real-world insights on the process of change, and amplify learnings that can be scaled to benefit other communities. The Accelerator supports cities as they pilot new ways of increasing park equity. It also identifies lessons learned and shareable examples that will drive learning and innovation in other cities.
Park Equity Accelerator Cities: Cohort 2
Advancing Park Equity Across the Country
Baton Rouge, LA
Boston, MA
Partnering with the Boston Housing Authority to inventory parks on BHA properties and developing a plan for improving park access/equity at these sites.
Cincinnati, OH
Developing a model for the city to use data to drive equitable park investment and exploring revenue streams for additional park funding.
Dallas, TX
Developing maintenance and stewardship models for newly-developed city parks built on vacant or under-utilized parcels of land.
Long Beach, CA
Building an equitable approach to programming and partnerships.
Pittsburgh, PA
Working to develop urban land conservation models that can better connect city greenways.
Raleigh, NC
Developing a model for the city to use data to drive equitable park investment and creating partnerships with developers to enhance park access.
Washington, DC
Helping the city develop a systematic approach to park maintenance.
Park Equity Accelerator Cities: Cohort 1
Advancing Park Equity Across the Country
Chattanooga, TN
Partnering with the City to develop a standardized community engagement process for park development, management, and improvement.
Cleveland, OH
Conducted a comprehensive conditions assessment of its park system using TPL’s park equity data to prioritize capital improvements.
Fort Worth, TX
Analyzed non-traditional and publicly-owned land available in the city that could be converted to parks.
Lexington, KY
Conducted case-making research for a policy that would increase the quality of privately-developed greenspace.
Los Angeles, CA
Supported the development of an equitable development strategy for a park to mitigate gentrification and displacement.
Scranton, PA
Analyzed the connectivity between city neighborhoods and parks.
SPOTLIGHT
Scranton, PA
With Mayor Cognetti’s priorities around improving public infrastructure and creating safer streets for complete neighborhoods, along with the recently published parks needs assessment study, Scranton is positioned to make meaningful progress toward its own park equity goals while also serving as a national leader in developing impactful solutions to common barriers U.S. cities face in their work toward equitable access to high-quality parks for all residents.
Parks have become a large component in Scranton’s economic development plan, and the city has successfully blended projects to incorporate parks; for example, the City used parks for rain gardens to help with stormwater projects and tied parks to streetscape projects.
As part of the PEA, Scranton has:
- Convened community meetings to discuss access and belonging issues related to local parks.
- Conducted an analysis of pedestrian infrastructure leading into four local parks.
- Analyzed streetscaping, canopy cover, and overall greenness across the city.
- Conducted a geospatial analysis of park programming.
"More than ever before, we see our city parks as being critical for not only recreation, but for physical and mental health. The 10-Minute Walk program's Park Equity Accelerator program offers the City of Scranton an opportunity to provide incredible green spaces throughout the city and make sure all residents share the resources."
Mayor Paige G. Cognetti
Scranton, PA
Scranton, PA