Reinventing Stockton

Access to nature and the outdoors is a powerful public health strategy, but it’s not always created equally. Bound by the old redlines that defined where immigrant, low-income, and farmer families were allowed to reside, communities in South Stockton, California have endured disinvestment and lack of access to resources for generations—leaving a profound impact on the residents today.

Nearly 93% of residents identify as Latino/Hispanic, Black, or Asian American, and more than half of the households live in poverty. There’s a 20.5-year difference in life expectancy according to the South Stockton Census when compared to more affluent areas just three miles north.

Quality parks are fundamental for sustaining healthy, resilient communities, yet only 3% of Stockton’s land is used for parks and recreation. At Trust for Public Land, we believe parks and green spaces make people and communities healthy and strong, which is why we’re partnering with Reinvent South Stockton Coalition (RSSC), Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center, and San Joaquin Department of Public Health to build a greener future for all.

Our Land and People Lab is helping map park locations and identify areas for green space investments and improvements, like schoolyards that can be transformed into green oases that entire neighborhoods can enjoy after school hours.

Over the next three years, we’ll work with the local community to better understand what residents want in a local green space and engage with local advocates to help change the policies that are keeping Stockton as one of the worst-funded cities in terms of park investment. And thanks to a grant from the BUILD Health Challenge, we’ll help implement parks activations to engage the whole community.