The 2022 ParkScore finds that cities are increasingly employing green space as a tool for mitigating heat and extreme weather effects, but the distribution of parks remains inequitable.

A blog post from the Trust for Public Land outlines the importance of urban parks in slowing and mitigating the effects of climate change. “Many American cities have committed to slashing carbon emissions. Increasingly, they are also trying to make themselves more resilient, adapting streetscapes and green spaces to counter the worst effects of extreme heat and violent storms.” The blog calls parks a vital component of this effort. “Green space has the power to lower air temperature and absorb floodwater and can be designed in a way that enhances those benefits. That’s especially important for disadvantaged communities, whose vulnerable populations are most at risk as the Earth warms.”
The blog highlights key findings of their 2022 ParkScore® index, including that “Eighty-five percent of cities are adapting parks and recreation facilities to address climate change” and “Seventy-seven percent are enlisting parks to counter urban heat.”
The analysis also uncovered inequities in park distribution. “Our analysis found that the neighborhoods where most residents identify as people of color have access to an average of 43 percent less park acreage than mostly white neighborhoods.”
The blog concludes that more investment is needed to combat climate change and protect the most vulnerable communities. “Congress, state governments, and city councils all must redouble efforts to finance green infrastructure in order to protect communities—especially those that need parks most.”
FULL STORY: 2022 ParkScore report reveals the power of parks to address climate change

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research