Resources

Resources for Park and Recreation Professionals

With help from our members and research partners, we make the following resources and tools available to equip parks and recreation departments, municipalities, urban design and landscape architecture firms, and advocacy organizations to enhance capacity and build equitable, healthy, and engaged communities.

Member Exclusive
Report
From Insight to Action: Developing Equity Data Tools (EDTs) for Urban Parks
City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation
This report shares best practices captured during a 2025 convening of several parks and recreation agencies using Equity Data Tools (EDTs), hosted by City Park…
Member Exclusive
Report
Cities with Equity-Oriented Park Plans Might Have More Equitable Park Distributions
Department of City and Metropolitan Planning, The University of Utah
This is a study summary exploring the question of "What if park plans made a difference in achieving a more equitable distribution of parks?"
Report
Parks and Technology
City Parks Alliance
In this report, learn about what park leaders need to consider—and understand—about technology for parks and public spaces.
Member Exclusive
Report
Pathways to Play: Community School Parks Program Report
Los Angeles Park Foundation
This report examines the Community School Park (CSP) program's effectiveness to increase use of school campuses for public recreation during periods when schoo…
Report
Nature-Based Solutions for Managing Stormwater in Parks
City Parks Alliance
This report from a cohort of parks and stormwater agency leaders from eight cities informs how to increase collaboration between the parks and stormwater manag…
Report
Transit to parks initiatives in the U.S. and Canada: Practitioners’ perspectives
Transport Policy
This study explores motivations, facilitators, and challenges related to transit to parks initiatives in the U.S. and Canada.
Report
Riding transit to parks in Utah: Motivations, constraints, negotiations, and policy recommendations
Transportation Research
This research studied the motivations, constraints, negotiations, and policy changes for riding transit to parks in Utah’s Wasatch Front region.
Report
Leading Together: A New Model for Thriving State Parks
Potrero Group
This report examines how a new nonprofit partner is enhancing the CA park system's ability to meet unprecedented challenges and scale innovation.
Report
The Relationship Between Greenspace Exposure and Telomere Length in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Science of The Total Environment
Living near green space could reduce a person’s biological age by 2.2-2.6 years, but can't offset the effects of discrimination and pollution.
Report
Neighborhood Greenspace and Neighborhood Income Associated with White Matter Grade Worsening: Cardiovascular Health Study
Alzheimer’s & Dementia/ University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Comprehensive Center for Brain Health
A new study finds low income levels and a lack of green spaces are among the factors that can harm brain health.