A new tool for assessing the quality of the park systems in America's cities was unveiled this week by The Trust for Public Land. Ryan Donahue delivers the rankings.
Calling it "the most comprehensive park rating system ever developed," The Trust for Public Land's ParkScore aims to "help city residents quantify their need for more and better parks, and
for city governments to craft effective and efficient plans to create
excellent park systems."
Developed using advanced GIS analysis and data collected by the Center for City Park Excellence, ParkScore assessed the park systems of the nation's forty biggest cities based on three primary factors: Acreage (median park size and percentage of city covered by parkland), Access (percentage of residents living within a half-mile walk of the nearest park), and Service & Investment (total spending per resident and playgrounds per 10,000 residents).
San Francisco came out on top in the inagural rankings, with Sacramento and New York filling out the top three. The lowest scoring cities are Fresno, Charlotte, and Louisville.
FULL STORY: What is Your City’s ParkScore?

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Making Mobility More Inclusive
A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service