The COVID-19 pandemic reaffirmed a critical truth: parks are essential public health infrastructure. As urban residents sought safe spaces for exercise, social connection, and emotional respite, usage of parks surged — underscoring their vital role in fostering community well-being. Yet, despite mounting evidence linking green space to improved health outcomes, parks and recreation are rarely recognized or resourced as integral components of the health system.
DowntownDC’s Franklin Park and Reservation 182 illustrate how intentional park design and programming can transform urban greenspaces into catalysts for health and inclusion. Franklin Park, the largest green space in downtown Washington, DC, embodies a “place for ALL” philosophy. Just blocks away, Reservation 182 hosts the DowntownDC Day Services Center, a pioneering model integrating social services directly into park space. This approach reframes public space not only as a venue for recreation but also as an entry point for vital health and housing resources, mental health support, and trauma-informed outreach for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.
This presentation explores lessons learned from these two downtown parks, including approaches to balancing activation with need, fostering social cohesion amid polarization, and leveraging parks to address historical inequities in urban cores. It will also examine future opportunities: integrating parks into broader health systems, optimizing workforce development for inclusive service delivery, and using arts and culture to tell hidden histories while promoting healing and belonging.
