John,
The COVID-19 global pandemic proved the importance of quality parks and open spaces to our health, safety, and quality of life. Communities that have equal access to parks and open spaces are stronger, healthier, more livable, and more connected.
Yet too many people across the nation lacked access to such places of refuge during the pandemic. In fact, across America 100 million people … including 28 million children … don’t have a park within a 10-minute walk of home. And this deficiency especially affects communities that have been historically marginalized.
For example, parks that serve primarily people of color are half as large and serve nearly five times more people than parks in majority white neighborhoods. This is what we call the Park Equity Divide.
Having access to parks and nature should be a right, not a privilege. That’s the fundamental belief behind The Trust for Public Land’s mission to create parks and protect land for people. And it is the driving force behind all our efforts to close the park equity divide that exists in too many communities in our country — to ensure everyone can benefit from nature, parks, and green spaces.
Our goal: By 2025, The Trust for Public Land will work directly with hundreds of communities to put a quality park within a 10-minute walk of five million people who currently lack access and transform barren asphalt schoolyards into vibrant parks in 20 underserved school districts, improving park access for another six million people.
This is an incredibly ambitious goal that will require the support of our members and dedicated supporters like you. That’s why I am asking you to tell us if you will support this work by providing one of the following two answers:
YES! I support The Trust for Public Land’s commitment to equity and efforts to close the park equity divide that exists in too many communities across the nation.
OR
NO. I choose not to support The Trust for Public Land’s efforts to close the park equity divide which exists in many historically marginalized communities.
Your answer will aid The Trust for Public Land in determining whether we can expect your support in the future for our vital work to bring parks and green spaces to millions of people around the country.
Please share your answer with me today … this is an aggressive goal with an equally aggressive schedule, so we have no time to waste. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Kim Elliot
Director of Membership
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