Parks and green space have always played an essential role in our communities, providing economic value, emotional and physical health benefits, and bringing people together. Now more than ever, nature has taken on a whole new meaning for many of us, becoming the one place we go for exercise, fresh air, and a break from anxiety. But not everyone has equal access to the outdoors: data shows that parks serving primarily nonwhite populations are half the size of parks that serve majority white populations, and serve five times as many people per acre.
As Congress determines how best to provide economic relief for millions of Americans impacted by COVID-19, we see an opportunity to create jobs, invest in disenfranchised communities and ensure every American has access to a quality green space within a 10-minute walk of their home. Take action: Urge your lawmakers to support local parks today!
Parks make our communities happier, healthier, and more resilient. But today, more than 100 million Americans don't have a park within a 10-minute walk of home. Instead, kids play in streets, alleyways, or vacant lots. Or they just stay inside — leading to a national crisis of inactivity linked to high levels of obesity, diabetes, and depression.
We need legislation that will help create new outdoor recreational space and reinvigorate existing parks in communities where it's needed most. Take action now by urging your members of Congress to include a federal investment for close-to-home parks in the next economic stimulus bill — making parks accessible for everyone regardless of zip code.
