57 it serves as a conservative baseline. The TPL team knows that there was a substantial rise in park use in 2020, because they were among the few places where people could escape. Clinton is hopeful that the increase is sustained and continues to generate value and engagement with nature. Establishing a Framework for the Future of Parks Since its publication in March 2022, The Economic Benefits of Parks in New York City has influenced policymakers’ short- and long-term funding decisions. “Our most immediate need was securing short-term funding for cleaning and maintaining parks that saw record use during the pandemic. But to meet longterm goals of park equity and climate resiliency, we also need to build and maintain new parks. The big structural challenge is finding strong and dependable funding for parks,” said Carter Strickland, TPL’s vice president for the mid-Atlantic region and New York State director. New York City mayor Eric Adams pledged to devote 1 percent of the city’s budget to funding public parks Environment and broke ground on 104 previously paused park projects in March 2023. In addition to connecting residents to nature, parks appeal to tourists and give business leaders a reason to establish an office or storefront nearby. “There’s a dual benefit to parks—they help bolster the economy and they’re essential for residents’ quality of life,” Strickland said. Strickland, Hannon, and Clinton are optimistic about the role of parks in economic recovery, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Appraising the often unseen but important benefits of these spaces provided a critical foundation for their creation, protection, and maintenance. Hannon said this analysis couldn’t have been done without GIS. “It’s so powerful to look at a map and see where you need to work,” he said. “It’s not just theoretical. You’re there—right there.” The Trust for Public Land has turned many school playgrounds into parks. The Trust for Public Land used Esri Tapestry Segmentation to analyze New York City neighborhoods into demographic and socioeconomic segments for market and park customer analysis.
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