Washington Parks for People

The research is clear: quality parks and green space are vital to health and happiness. Great parks give people a place to play, unwind, and connect with nature. They relieve stress, improve health, strengthen community ties, support children’s development, and can buffer communities from heat waves and floods. That’s why Trust for Public Land is partnering with communities to ensure that everyone has a great park within a 10-minute walk of home.

Washington is known for its inspiring natural landscapes and outstanding parks. But access to green space is unequal. In Washington and across the country, park access follows long-standing inequities. In communities with low incomes and communities of color, parks are often fewer and smaller than parks in higher-income or predominantly white neighborhoods. More than 1.4 million people in Washington State—a third of the population, including a million people in the Puget Sound region—do not have a park within a 10-minute walk of home.

TPL partners with community members to understand their vision for parks and green space in their community. Through collaborative design, TPL creates parks that reflect local cultures and advance the community’s goals. In communities with barriers to acquiring new land for parks, TPL implements innovative solutions to expand nature access, like transforming underused schoolyards into vibrant green spaces that are open to the public outside of school hours.

Access to parks—close to home, in the communities where people live—is a matter of health, equity, and justice. We envision a future where every Washingtonian has a quality park within a 10-minute walk of home. And we’re not alone. TPL is collaborating with community advocates, local governments, and generous supporters to create great new parks across Washington.