Advancing equitable park access: a policy scan of 25 U.S. cities

Municipal policy can address disparities in equitable access to quality parks, but currently, no tools are available to systematically identify such policies, and little research shows the prevalence and distribution of policies across cities. This research aimed to 1) validate a policy scan data collection tool, 2) describe the prevalence of park access policies by categories, and 3) analyze demographic and geographic trends in a U.S. city sample. The policy scan tool was piloted in 25 U.S. cities and captured municipal park access policies in the following categories: Parks Needs Assessment, Community Engagement, Public Funding, Shared Use Agreements, Maintenance, Land Use and Development, Connectivity, and Anti-Displacement. Specific policy mechanisms within policy categories were also defined. Key informant interviews confirmed that the policy scan tool detected park access policies (83–100 % accuracy rate). Cities most often had at least one policy in Connectivity (n = 24; 96 %), Land Use and Development (n = 21;84 %), and Public Funding (n = 18;72 %). Land Use and Development and Anti-Displacement were most commonly found in codes of ordinances, while Public Funding and Shared Use were typically identified in standalone policies, such as resolutions, executive orders, or multi-agency agreements. Cities in the West and South regions had a significantly greater number of policies compared to those in the Northeast region. This study reveals what types of policies cities across the U.S. are using to increase access to parks and green space, further highlighting the need for policy implementation and outcome research related to parks and green space access and equity.