Finding sustainable funding for neighborhood parks remains one of the most persistent challenges facing urban park systems.
This report, developed in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, examines innovative techniques and strategies cities are using to address funding gaps for both capital projects and ongoing maintenance. It is based on an extensive literature review and interviews with park professionals from eleven urban park systems.
It is divided into two parts:
Part I: Overview of Funding Strategies
The overview highlights funding strategies that park systems around the country use to fund their parks. The strategies represent a range of approaches to park funding, drawing on both public and private funding sources.
Part II: Case Studies
The case studies, with examples of public funding mechanisms and public-private partnerships, show how funding strategies work in specific cities, including Boulder, Chicago, Denver, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, and Toronto.