Trust for Public Land

Statue in Franklin Square Park in Washington, D.C. with dry fall tree in background

Top American Cities for Parks

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) recently released its annual report which ranks park systems in the 100 most populous U.S. cities.

June 8, 2023 - The Trust for Public Land

Cherry Blossoms

D.C. Tops the 2021 ParkScore List

The Trust for Public Land has published the most recent version of its annual ranking of parks and open space. A new twist for 2021includes a new metric to consider equity.

May 28, 2021 - Trust for Public Land

COVID-19

Staying Healthy During the Pandemic

Local parks and green spaces that enable safe social distancing have never been more important to people living in cities. The Trust for Public Land has released a new report showing their importance and the challenges they are facing.

August 4, 2020 - The Washington Post

child playing in Peavey Plaza fountain in Minneapolis

2020 ParkScore Ranks Minneapolis at the Top

The need for access to parks and open space has never been as obvious, or as pressing.

May 21, 2020 - The Trust for Public Land

A 'Walk in the Park' Needs a 'Walk to the Park'

Several strategies and initiatives seek to make parks more accessible on foot in the county of Los Angeles. Clement Lau, an L.A. County planner, summarizes a few of these strategies and initiatives.

March 19, 2019 - UrbDeZine

Los Angeles City Hall

Five Key Data Sources for Park Planning

Park planner Clement Lau discusses five (plus one in Los Angeles) key data sources for parks and recreation planning.

September 10, 2018 - UrbDeZine

Seattle Gasworks Park

Explained: The Greenprint Approach to Park Planning

An article on Governing aims to spread the word about the Greenprint Resource Hub.

December 2, 2017 - Governing

Normal, Illinois

National Partners Launch the 10-Minute Walk to a Park Campaign

The 10-Minute Walk to a Park Campaign launched earlier this month.

October 31, 2017 - The Huffington Post

Philadelphia Park

A New Green Thumb Tool for Planners

The Greenprint Resource Hub aims to integrate open space, parks, and agriculture into city and regional planning efforts.

July 12, 2017 - progrss

Dog Park

Report: Dog Parks 'Lead the Pack' in New Urban Parks

The Trust for Public Land's annual City Parks Facts report finds cities around the country are adding dog parks with the enthusiasm of a pack puppies.

April 26, 2016 - PR Newswire

New Taxes could Drive up the Cost of Conservation in Maine

Maine trails only three states in total acreage of land protected by conservation. A new plan to end the property tax exemptions for nonprofits, however, could make that work much more difficult.

January 25, 2015 - Portland Press Herald

$2 Million Gift to Help Preserve 1,000 Acres of Forest in Connecticut

The Trust for Public land scored a major funding victory in an effort to save 1,000 acres of forest known as The Preserve in Connecticut.

January 14, 2015 - The Day

Report: San Francisco's City Parks Worth $959 Million

The Trust for Public Land’s Center for City Park Excellence released a report placing the value of San Francisco's park system at $959 million.

January 7, 2015 - City Parks Blog

54-Acre Park Planned for Bozeman, Montana

The Trust for Public Land is working with the city of Bozeman on a master planning process for a large park on the north side of town, with connections to the city's history as a railroad town and an agricultural center.

September 19, 2014 - NBC Montana

Minneapolis and New York City Top 2014 ParkScore Ratings

The third annual rating of cities ranks the access, size, and spending of parks in the 60 largest cities in the country.

June 2, 2014 - The Trust for Public Land

Could Golf Courses Become the Next Redevelopment Frontier?

In Portland, Oregon an unlikely partnership of environmental and business interests is supporting a plan to rezone an 84-year-old golf course to allow industrial development, bringing a new slant to the term 'greenfield development'.

June 11, 2013 - The Oregonian

Queensway Viaduct

Plans for Queens' 'High Line' Has Competition: Bringing Back the Train

Queen's version of Manhattan's High Line is known as the QueensWay, an abandoned LIRR branch that went from Rego Park to Rockaway. Two congressmen have now endorsed a plan to bring the train back - though planning for the new park has already begun.

March 27, 2013 - Queens Chronicle

QueensWay: NYC’s Next High Line?

After 5 decades of abandonment, and recent inspiration from the much-lauded High Line, a rusty railway stretching three-and-a-half miles through central Queens may become NYC’s next elevated greenway.

January 10, 2013 - New York Times

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.