A Different Change in Climate:

The Heating Up of the Urban Parks Movement

Peter HarnikCenter for City Park Excellence

Park PrideAtlanta, GA

March 23, 2015

Number of People Within a 10 Minute Walk of a Park

Total Population

Non-UrbanUrban/Suburban within

a 10 minute walk.Urban/Suburban not

within a 10 minute walk

318 Million 60 Million 147 to 168 Million 90 to 111 Million

Serving America by Making More Parks

-

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

1634 2014 3174

Urb

an

Pa

rks

20,767 parks have been created to date in the 100 largest cities.

Serving America by Making More Parks

-

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

1634 2014 3174

Urb

an

Pa

rks

About 60,000 more parks

needed.

Time it will take at current rate of creation.

Forest ParkPortland, Oregon

Size: 5,032 acres

People served within a half-mile: 4,344

Map from TPL Parkscore

Riverside ParkNew York City

Size: 222 acres

People served within a half-mile: 259,000

Map from TPL Parkscore

Serving America by Increasing Density Around Parks

-

20,000

40,000

1634 2014 2124

Urb

an

Pa

rks

About 6,000 more parks needed.

Time it will take at current rate of creation.

Serving America by Increasing Density Around Parks

-

20,000

40,000

1634 2014 2124

Urb

an

Pa

rks

About 6,000 more parks needed.

Time it will take at current rate of creation.

Bicycle access extends the “reach” of a park 16-fold over walking.

Peter HarnikDirector

Center for City Park Excellence

tpl.org/CCPE

Peter.Harnik@tpl.org(202) 330-4725