In this week’s episode, host Margaret Walls talks about improving equity in urban park systems with Norma García-González, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, and Catherine Nagel, the executive director of the City Parks Alliance. García-González discusses how data and community engagement have helped Los Angeles County increase the accessibility and quality of its urban park system. Nagel discusses similar efforts in other cities to create equitable urban park systems and the social, environmental, and economic value of parks in urban areas.

References and recommendations:

“Los Angeles Countywide Comprehensive Parks & Recreation Needs Assessment” by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation; https://lacountyparkneeds.org/final-report/

“Parks Needs Assessment Plus” by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation; https://lacountyparkneeds.org/pnaplus-report/

People, Parks, and Power: A National Initiative for Green Space, Health Equity, and Racial Justice from Prevention Institute; https://preventioninstitute.org/projects/people-parks-and-power

“Park Equity, Life Expectancy, and Power Building” by Prevention Institute; https://coeh.ph.ucla.edu/park-equity-life-expectancy-and-power-building/

“The association of green space, tree canopy and parks with life expectancy in neighborhoods of Los Angeles” by Rachel Connolly, Jonah Lipsitt, Manal Aboelata, Elva Yañez, Jasneet Bains, and Michael Jerrett; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023000582

“Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World” by Karen Armstrong; https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671038/sacred-nature-by-karen-armstrong/