vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Executive Summary Parks and green spaces1 have intrinsic value, but they also provide a range of direct and indirect benefits that support healthy, productive lives and resilient, cohesive communities. Many of these health and resilience benefits are quantifiable and well documented and can be expressed in terms of their economic impacts on individuals and communities. Measuring, understanding, and communicating the economic health benefits of park equity will help park leaders, community advocates, and other stakeholders make informed decisions about park and green space investments. Evidence suggests that parks and green spaces have significant benefits for their users, with additional benefits accruing with investments in park and green space access and quality. This is fueled, in part, by a growing recognition of the broader utility and value of parks for individuals and communities. Park leaders and advocates are identifying ways to unlock the full potential of parks to spur economic benefits for neighborhoods and residents, foster belonging and collective identity, and provide health benefits for users. Health benefits can be measured as both direct contributions as well as averted health expenditures. But the benefits of parks have not traditionally accrued to all. To ensure equitable access to high-quality parks, policymakers and local leaders must acknowledge the legacies of slavery, racial violence, redlining, and other forms of oppression that have prevented people of color from experiencing parks and green space. Evidence on health benefits highlight the importance of contextualizing who has access to parks and green spaces and whether that access is equitable. This document advances this process by situating parks within broader conversations on equity and access and providing a comprehensive summary of the research on the health equity benefits of parks. Four dimensions of health are discussed in this report—physical, mental, social, and environmental—to demonstrate the range of health benefits from parks and green space, and where possible, the economic impacts of these contributions. This report presents the evidence described in recent, relevant literature to support local leaders, park professionals, advocates, and others to advance the field of park and green space health equity with more strategic investments. There is moderate to strong evidence, qualitative and quantitative, showing that parks have a substantial contribution to health across all four dimensions. The strongest evidence establishes parks’ benefits on physical health. Several studies highlight the link between time spent in parks and physical activity and the correlation between that activity and positive health outcomes, such as a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Research suggests that park usage also
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