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Cleveland, Ohio, is on the right track when it comes to park access. According to data from Trust for Public Land (TPL), about 81% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. But Mayor Justin Bibb and his staff don’t believe access alone tells the full story.

“We score really well in terms of park access, but what we learned, especially after COVID when more people were using the parks, is that the quality of parks is not what community residents needed,” says James DeRosa, director of the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects.

Cleveland city officials learned that great park systems are about more than access; they must also consider quality, use, and community perceptions. High-performing park systems offer solutions to today’s most pressing challenges — from supporting physical and mental health to safeguarding the environment and fostering economic growth. And at a time when Americans are seemingly more divided than ever, parks can bring people together.

But to realize those benefits, park systems need a way to direct investments towards the areas in greatest need. Cleveland is tackling that challenge with an alternative investment model: an equity-driven approach which pairs data on the condition of parks with community characteristics to ensure that investment is being channeled toward parks that need it most in the neighborhoods that need them most. This equity-centered decision-making process, championed by Mayor Bibb during his campaign, is part of a broader vision for neighborhood revitalization—one that prioritizes historically disinvested areas alongside downtown improvements. In other words, it takes context and communities into account.

Trust for Public Land’s (TPL) 10-Minute Walk® program is providing a platform for Cleveland and other cities like Cincinnati and Raleigh to test this approach and other innovative, systems-change approaches to achieving park equity through its Park Equity Accelerator (PEA). The PEA is designed to help cities address the root causes of park system disparities by identifying and implementing policy and systems solutions that create lasting change. TPL supports cities by analyzing data, researching best practices, developing model policies, connecting local leaders with national experts to inform their work, and strengthening civic engagement in local park policy decisions. Lessons from the PEA cities are then used to develop a roadmap for other city leaders to help address similar challenges in their communities.

The Accelerator isn’t just about expanding access; it’s about ensuring parks provide meaningful benefits for everyone. in Scranton, Pennsylvania, another PEA city, park practitioners have looked to increase use of the city’s numerous parks. Though there are 40 parks across the city’s 25 square miles, and 84% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, a recent survey found that park visitation is inhibited by poor pedestrian access and connectivity, combined with a lack of sense of belonging in certain parks.

“We’re taking a two-pronged approach to park equity,” says Alyssa Kelley, project manager for Valley in Motion, a nonprofit that’s working with Scranton on its PEA initiative. “The first part is looking at data — we’re going out and assessing the environment in and around parks to get a better pedestrian perspective. The data tells us a lot, but it doesn’t tell us about actual user experience. The second part is community engagement. We’ve hosted or co-hosted events across the city to talk to residents and learn how they feel about their parks.” The goal is to direct the city’s limited resources towards the changes residents most want.

With the results of these efforts, the city is improving park access and increasing inclusive and welcoming programming based on input from residents “More than ever before, we see our city parks as being critical for not only recreation, but for physical and mental health,” says Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti. “The Park Equity Accelerator offers the City of Scranton an opportunity to provide incredible green spaces throughout the city and make sure all residents share the resources.”

In addition to Cleveland and Scranton, the first cohort of Park Equity Accelerator cities included Fort Worth, Texas; Lexington, Kentucky; Los Angeles, California; and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Building on their success, TPL launched the second cohort of PEAs, expanding to eight new cities, and a third cohort was announced in January with 7 additional cities. These communities — 21 in total — aim to overcome challenges related to capital prioritization, park maintenance, and creatively utilizing non-traditional land for parks in order to strengthen civic well-being and amplify the benefits of parks for all.

The significance of the PEA projects extends beyond their immediate local impact. Each project is a learning opportunity, contributing to the broader field of park equity and reinforcing the pivotal role of parks in fostering community power and urban vitality. As these cities navigate challenges, their experiences generate valuable insights. The 10-Minute Walk program is using this information to develop tools and resources to assist other cities, which will accelerate and streamline progress overall.

“Parks offer essential solutions to the pressing issues cities are facing, fostering togetherness, civic capacity building and engagement, resilience, health, and economic growth,” says Bianca Clarke, Associate Vice President of TPL’s Parks initiative and 10-Minute Walk Program Director. “Leading cities such as Cleveland and Scranton exemplify how integrating parks into strategies like downtown redevelopment and strengthening connectivity can create healthier, more vibrant, inclusive communities where everyone can benefit.”

Watch a TPL-hosted webinar featuring James DeRosa and other park equity experts here.

This post was originally published on Next City.