New Tool Aims to Make Parks More Resilient to Climate Change

The interactive mapping platform helps park managers understand the risks in their area and create long-term resilience plans.

1 minute read

June 2, 2021, 12:00 PM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Magnolia Gardens

PROmogollon_1 / Flickr

A new tool helps park managers understand the potential impacts of climate change on their parks and plan accordingly, writes Peter Yeung in Next City. "NRPA [National Recreation and Park Association] and design firm Sasaki partnered to develop Climate.Park.Change, an interactive platform that launched last month to allow park professionals to explore the impacts of climate change by region – such as drought, heatwaves and erosion—and to discover proven, effective strategies to fight them."

The platform was developed to help parks find "strategies for mitigating climate challenges" using data specific to their area. According to Kristin Riker, director of public lands for Salt Lake City, the tool is "a really great database of park-specific, climate-related information and idea-sharing opportunities in the park and recreation realm to understand what’s been done, what’s worked and what hasn’t worked." Salt Lake City's Glendale Water Park, one of the case studies for the platform, presents "some interesting challenges" in terms of climate mitigation that Climate.Park.Change helped park officials analyze.

"Over time, the plan is also for the database to become richer and richer thanks to a function that lets park professionals submit their own strategies and experiences in the critical fight against climate change. The team also hopes to, where possible, increase the granularity of the data from country level down to city level."

Wednesday, May 26, 2021 in Next City

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

March 28 - Anchorage Daily News

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

March 28 - Governing

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

March 28 - CBS News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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.