Grant funding will support efforts to increase access to high-quality parks within a 10-minute walk of home
Ashburn, Va. (Sept. 18, 2019) — The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) announced today the 10 communities that will receive grant funding totaling $400,000 in support of city planning and policy efforts that help increase access to high-quality, close-to-home parks and public green space.
The grant funding is given in coordination with 10 Minute Walk — a campaign dedicated to improving access to parks and green spaces while positively transforming communities. NRPA, along with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) are working together to ensure everyone has safe access to a quality park within a 10-minute walk of home.
The communities receiving grant funding are:
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In addition to funds that support equitable park access, these communities receive ongoing technical assistance, professional development and access to networks of like-minded park and recreation professionals throughout the country.
“Parks are essential to healthy and thriving communities, but we need long-term solutions to ensure parks are well-maintained, accessible and located where they are needed most,” said Kristine Stratton, NRPA President and CEO. “This funding allows cities to create systemic change that will continue to benefit their communities, not just today, but far into the future.”
These communities join 22 other municipalities who have previously received grant funding through this program from NRPA and have committed to implement plans, increase funding, and create policies that increase access to quality parks for everyone — particularly for vulnerable and underserved communities.
Raleigh, North Carolina, a grantee-city that received funding earlier in 2019, is creating a community engagement plan that addresses access, equity, collaboration and continuous reinvestment. Raleigh is a fast-growing city with a pressing need to retrofit an auto-oriented built environment. Through their partnership with NRPA, Raleigh has been able to develop a community-driven park access assessment tool that ensures gaps in park quality are improved particularly for the communities in Raleigh that are at high risk of poor health, economic, and environmental outcomes.
NRPA believes that everyone should have just and fair opportunity to access great parks, recreation facilities, and programs. NRPA works to improve park access by providing opportunities for funding, networking, capacity building and professional development to local park and recreation agencies. Just and fair access to parks is linked to increased physical activity, improved mental health, stronger community bonds and enhanced sustainability. In the last five years, we’ve provided over $14.5 million to directly improve park spaces and have developed best practices, learning opportunities and more for park professionals.
As part of this work, NRPA has created the Community Engagement Resource Guide which provides park and recreation professionals with a roadmap to implement equitable and inclusive community engagement strategies around the planning, design, construction, maintenance and activation of park projects and plans.
This group of grantees will kick-off their planning at a training in Tacoma, Washington.
Funding for this work is provided by The JPB Foundation.
To learn more about NRPA’s park access grants, visit www.nrpa.org/10MinuteWalk.
To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.
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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.
About 10 Minute Walk
10 Minute Walk is a movement dedicated to improving access to safe, quality parks and green spaces in cities—large and small—throughout the U.S. Together, we’re working with leaders to create a world in which 100% of people are within a 10-minute walk of a park or green space by 2050. Led by The Trust for Public Land, in partnership with National Recreation and Park Association and the Urban Land Institute, we drive commitments from city leaders working to achieve this vision and transform their communities by elevating parks and green space. Read more here.