
Feature Story
August 2020
Data Reveals Racial Disparity in Park Access
The Trust for Public Land recently released a new report revealing that across the nation, parks serving primarily nonwhite populations are half the size of parks that serve majority white populations—and nearly five times as crowded. New data in the report shows that areas within a 10-minute walk of a park can be as much as 6 degrees cooler than areas beyond that range.
"As cities struggle with extreme heat this summer, parks are one of the best ways for residents to find relief," said Diane Regas, CEO and president of The Trust for Public Land. "During COVID-19, other options people turn to for safety during heat waves aren't available, so parks are even more important. We all need and deserve parks—and all of the benefits they provide—all of the time. But during this period of compounded public health emergencies, unequal access to quality parks can be downright dangerous."
The lack of equal access to parks for communities of color is particularly urgent given this summer's soaring temperatures. Each year, more than 65,000 people visit an emergency room for heat-related illness and more than 600 die, according to federal statistics. Parks can help. Surfaces in shade can be up to 45 degrees cooler than those in the sun—and trees can even lower indoor temperatures, especially when shade covers parts of rooftops and windows. The report showed that areas within a 10-minute walk of a park can be as much as 6 degrees cooler than areas beyond that range, but 100 million people in the United States don't have access to a park within a 10-minute walk from home.
The report showed that not everyone has equal access to the kinds of parks that lower temperatures and allow for safe social distancing. It found that parks serving primarily nonwhite populations are half the size of parks serving majority white populations, and five times more crowded. In addition, parks serving majority low-income households are, on average, four times smaller and four times more crowded than parks that serve majority high-income households.
For more information, visit www.tpl.org.
Recent Rec Report Feature Stories
USA Swimming Waives Swim-a-Thon Fees Through 2021 - August 2020
ACE Urges Congress to Pass COVID-19 Youth Sports & Health Working Families Relief Act - August 2020
Nation's Pediatricians Offer Advice on Return to Youth Sports - August 2020
Congress Fully Funds LWCF With Passage of Great American Outdoors Act - July 2020
AOAP's Aquatics Professional Designation Certified by CMAHC - July 2020
Fitness Participation Up in U.S. - July 2020
KaBOOM! Taskforce Offers Guidance on Playground Reopening - July 2020
Congress Nears Full, Permanent Funding of LWCF - June 2020
More Cities Join Effort to Reimagine Public Spaces - June 2020
CPSC Finds Steady Rise in Fatal Child Drownings - June 2020
NFHS Offers Guidance on Restarting High School Athletics, Activities - June 2020
YMCA, American Camp Association Release Guide to Support Summer Camp Safety - June 2020
NRPA Report Benchmarks Parks & Recreation Agencies - May 2020
CDC Issues Guidance for Aquatic Venues During COVID-19 - May 2020
Fitness Industry Leaders Reach Out to Governors on Safely Reopening - May 2020
Ys Respond to COVID-19 With Food Distribution, Child Care Service - May 2020
NRPA Offers Guidance on Playgrounds During COVID-19 Pandemic - April 2020
$2 Million in Pool Safely Grants Available - April 2020
Health Club Membership Up in 2019, Says IHRSA - April 2020
NRPA Releases Resource for Creating Equity-Based System Master Plans - April 2020
3 Million More Americans Got Active in 2019, Says SFIA - March 2020
TPL Awards 10-Minute Walk Grants - March 2020
Revised VGBA Drain Cover Standard Approved - March 2020
NAYS Offers Free Training on Sudden Cardiac Arrest - March 2020
New CDC Initiative Aims to Boost Activity for Americans - March 2020
NRPA Launches Mentoring in Parks and Rec - February 2020
AOAP Recommends MAHC Adoption - February 2020
ACE Examines Effectiveness of REHIT - February 2020
RTC Shares Progress Toward Completing Great American Rail-Trail - February 2020
18 Cities Earn Grants for Parks - January 2020
USA Swimming Recognizes Top Swimming Clubs - January 2020
Study Finds One-Third of U.S. High Schools Have No Access to Athletic Trainers - January 2020
Philadelphia Kids to Get More Play Options - January 2020
People's Choice Awards Honors Whirligig Park in North Carolina - December 2019
NSF International Adds New Standards for Interactive Water Play - December 2019
ACSM: Wearable Tech, HIIT Are Top Fitness Trends for 2020 - December 2019
TPL Looks to Schoolyards to Improve Park Access - December 2019
Meet Me at the Park Grant Program Reaches More than a Million Kids - November 2019
PHTA Recognizes Achievements in Aquatics - November 2019
Know the Dangers of Unauthorized Entry - November 2019
Survey Says: Americans Love Their Parks - November 2019
NRPA Awards Grants to 10 Communities to Expand Park Access - October 2019
CPSC Awards Pool Safely Grants - October 2019
NCAA Announces AASP Grant Recipients - October 2019
$170.6 Million in LWCF Grants to Support Parks & Outdoor Recreation - October 2019
High School Sports Participation Declines for the First Time in 30 Years - September 2019
TPL Suggests Schoolyards as Park-Access Solution - September 2019
New Study May Change Use of Chlorine Stabilizers in Swimming Pools - September 2019
High School Sports Participation Declines for the First Time in 30 Years - September 2019
City Parks Alliance on Park Funding & Equity - September 2019
Survey Reveals Top Outdoor Recreation Activities - August 2019
Pediatricians Urge Communities to Provide Swim Lessons for All - August 2019
Report: Tennis Participation Remains Consistent - August 2019
Survey: Only Half of Collegiate Sports Programs Follow NCAA Model for Student Medical Care - August 2019