UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Urban parks perform multiple services and provide a variety of benefits. However, high-quality urban parks are predominantly located in white, high-income neighborhoods, leaving low-income communities of color “park poor”. This report evaluates the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program which is intended to provide funding to urban, park-poor and economically disadvantaged communities. They find that the program is meeting its goal despite administration challenges, limited government capacity, and program elements such as matching grant requirements and limited technical assistance. The researchers recommend the National Park Service provide 1) more consistent and predictable application timelines and criteria; 2) tools to assess park equity and target park-poor communities; and 3) technical assistance; as well as 4) facilitate more consistent and transparent communication; 5) secure funding for increased staff capacity; 6) work on a legislative solution to match funding requirements; and 7) conduct further research on how to address programmatic barriers.