Of course, we are all park lovers here, but there are more benefits to green spaces than meets the eye.
Neighborhoods with fewer parks suffer more intense heat, and every bit of added vegetation can help! TPL's analysis of 14,000 cities and towns shows that nationwide, areas within a 10-minute walk of a park can be up to 6 degrees cooler than areas beyond that range. That's a big deal because extreme heat has become the most deadly type of weather hazard—killing more people than floods, extreme cold, tornadoes, hurricanes, and more.
In cities like Washington, DC, and Baltimore temperatures showed differences of up to 17 degrees between park space and streetscapes dominated by stone, asphalt, and cement. Tellingly, the coolest temperature readings in DC came from deep-green Rock Creek Park and the National Arboretum.
We're working to protect public lands across the country, and cooling neighborhoods while we do so. Will you join us while all gifts are matched 2X in honor of National Public Lands Day?
