November 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 16

RESEARCH
Research Shows That Inequitable Access to
Parks Remains a Barrier to Lifesaving Benefits
By Kevin Roth
"
B
ecause everyone deserves a great park " is not only NRPA's tagline,
but also a statement that represents the mission for public
parks and recreation. Unfortunately, many communities have
not been entirely successful in delivering on this mission. The
2021 NRPA Engagement With Parks Report (nrpa.org/Engagement) finds that
29 percent of U.S. residents - nearly 100 million people - do not live within
a walkable distance of at least one local park or other recreation amenity.
People are more likely to be park
users if they live near one. Sixty-five
percent of 2021 Engagement With
Parks Report
survey
respondents
who live within walking distance
of at least one park or recreation
opportunity had been park and
recreation users within a month of
taking the survey. However, only 36
percent of respondents not living
within a walkable distance did the
same. People living near park and
recreation infrastructure use these
resources twice as much as others.
Every person has a unique, personal
relationship with parks and
recreation. For one person, parks
and recreation may be the local
trail. For another person, parks and
recreation is where their children
make new friends or play sports.
For others, parks and recreation
is the place for continued learning
and giving back to the community.
But inequitable access has deprived
many people of parks and
recreation's many lifesaving and lifeenhancing
benefits. Further compounding
this disparity is when segments
of the community find a dearth
of park and recreation programming
and amenities. This gap in amenities
and services has a long history in this
nation. I encourage you to review
16 Parks & Recreation | NOVEMBER 2 0 2 1
The Public Wants Equitable
Parks and Recreation
People agree that equity is a crucial
mission of parks and recreation. Six
out of seven respondents to the 2021
NRPA Engagement With Parks Report
survey agree that the NRPA equity
pillar is an important goal they want
their local park and recreation agency
to have. Sixty-nine percent of
people say that equity should be a
" very important " part of their local
agency's mission. Respondents from
various backgrounds want park and
recreation professionals and agencies
to strive for greater equity.
Similarly, people want the government
to provide the financial
resources that narrow the inequities
hampering parks and recreation.
Eighty-seven
percent
of
respondents
to this survey want their local
and state governments to sufficiently
fund local park and recreation
agencies to ensure that every community
member has equitable access
to amenities, infrastructure and
programming. Support for government
spending to narrow park and
recreation inequities crosses every
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
our Equity in Parks and Recreation:
A Historical Perspective story map at
nrpa.org/Equity to learn more.
segment of the U.S. populace. This
includes political divisions with
firm support among people who
identify as Democrats, Republicans
and independents at 91 percent, 85
percent and 86 percent, respectively.
Narrowing park and recreation's
equity gap will not happen overnight.
Dr. John L. Crompton noted in his
October " Finance for the Field " column
(tinyurl.com/k559b7us)
that
there are many challenges that communities
must overcome to ensure
greater park and recreation equity.
Today, many agencies face great difficulty
securing sufficient funding to
deliver current services, a problem
further exasperated by the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic. This
problem is particularly acute in cities,
towns and counties with slow growing
(or contracting) tax bases and rising
demands for government services.
The field must develop innovative
and sustainable funding models that
promote greater equity in the delivery
of park and recreation offerings.
The journey to greater equity
will be a long one. But do not
mistake the length of this journey
with a lack of urgency. Narrowing
the equity gaps will
result from
the hard work and dedication of
park and recreation professionals
and advocates collaborating with
community partners and political
leaders. Everyone deserves a great
park. Are you ready to lead these
efforts in your community?
Kevin Roth is NRPA Vice President of
Research, Evaluation and Technology
(kroth@nrpa.org).
http://www.nrpa.org/Engagement http://www.nrpa.org/Equity http://www.tinyurl.com/k559b7us
November 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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