10-Minute Walk Local Policy Framework
Park Needs Assessment
Guiding Equitable Development
Park needs assessments help communities understand the state of their park systems—what exists, what’s missing, and where investments are most needed. By combining mapping, data, and community input, they reveal disparities in park access, quality, and amenities that often reflect broader inequities in public investment.
When used to guide planning and funding decisions, park needs assessments become powerful tools for advancing equity. They help cities and advocates direct resources where they will have the greatest impact, prioritize improvements for neighborhoods with the highest needs, and ensure every resident—no matter their zip code—has access to safe, high-quality parks that support health and quality of life.
REPORT
Park Qualities: Mapping Park Experience Types
10-Minute Walk Communities of Practice
This report summarizes the findings of the Park Equity Communities of Practice: Park Qualities Incubator, a national discussion series that convened 80 participants from 40 cities, ranging from planners, researchers, and advocates, to review a methodology to measure the availability of key park experience types across neighborhoods and cities. This report provides a methodological framework to measure common park experience types, with the ultimate goal of creating a tool to inform policy- and decision-making for park planners, researchers, and advocates.
Parks Needs Assessment Resources
Trust for Public Land’s ParkServe® mapping platform helps cities pinpoint park investments to address park needs.