POLICY PLAYBOOK
Grounds for Change
A Policy Playbook for Social Connection and Civic Life
Parks are more than green spaces—they’re essential civic spaces that connect people, strengthen neighborhoods, and sustain community life. Yet true connection doesn’t happen by chance. It takes policy that centers communities in shaping, activating, and stewarding their public spaces.
Grounds for Change offers a roadmap for local governments to make that possible. Built on national research and city case studies, this playbook highlights adaptable strategies that can be tailored to different local contexts. It provides practical tools to help city leaders, park professionals, and partners embed meaningful community engagement into policy and practice, creating structures for shared decision-making, transparent governance, and equitable park systems that truly reflect the communities they serve.
