Communities Across the Country are Rallying to Improve Access to the Outdoors 100 Million People Lack Close-to-Home Park Access
Published 10-23-20
Submitted by VF Corporation
During this public health crisis, data from The Trust for Public Land shows that over 100 million people in the U.S., including 28 million children, do not have access to a park within a 10-minute walk from home. For many of those that do have access, the quality of those parks is insufficient for community needs. As newly released data shows, parks serving primarily nonwhite populations are half the size of parks that serve majority white populations and nearly five times as crowded. Parks are vital for cooling neighborhoods, which is particularly important as temperatures continue to rise across the country. That’s why The Trust for Public Land is proud to partner with The VF Foundation to increase access to the outdoors in four underserved city neighborhoods across the country.
“Over the last several months, we have seen just how valuable parks are to a healthy, livable, and equitable community,” said Diane Regas, President and CEO of The Trust for Public Land, “We know, though, that not all parks are created equal and more must be done to create high-quality parks where they’re needed most. The work these communities are doing across the country is demonstrative of what happens when people are united for a common cause to improve their neighborhoods. We’re grateful for the partnerships that make change happen, including from The VF Foundation.”
The VF Foundation, the private grantmaking organization funded by VF Corporation, is providing $500,000 to The Trust for Public Land to support four park projects that will unite and empower residents to enjoy the transformative benefits of outdoor green space that has been out of reach for many.
“We’re committed to contributing to a world that prioritizes equitable access to the outdoors, particularly in urban communities where access to green space is incredibly limited,” said Gloria Schoch, Director of The VF Foundation. “Our investment in The Trust for Public Land’s work represents our core values while allowing us to scale our impact on a national level.”
The four projects include:
In Dallas, areas within a 10-minute walk of a park can be as much as 36 degrees cooler than areas beyond that range. This project will serve over 6,900 people within a 10-minute walk, and the majority of those residents identify as Black.
In Denver, areas within a 10-minute walk of a park can be as much as 52 degrees cooler than areas beyond that range. This project will serve over 24,000 people within a 10-minute walk, and the majority of those residents identify as Latino.
In Atlanta, areas within a 10-minute walk of a park can be as much as 47 degrees cooler than areas beyond that range. This project will serve over 3,679 people within a 10-minute walk, and the majority of those residents identify as Black.
In Los Angeles, areas within a 10-minute walk of a park can be as much as 55 degrees cooler than areas beyond that range. This project will serve over 2,500 people within a 10-minute walk, and the majority of those residents identify as Latino.
For more information about the Trust for Public and to learn more about the other great projects the team is focused on, log onto www.tpl.org.
VF Corporation outfits consumers around the world with its diverse portfolio of iconic lifestyle brands, including Vans®, The North Face®, Timberland®, Wrangler® and Lee®. Founded in 1899, VF is one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies with socially and environmentally responsible operations spanning numerous geographies, product categories and distribution channels. VF is committed to delivering innovative products to consumers and creating long-term value for its customers and shareholders. For more information, visit www.vfc.com
More from VF Corporation