New analysis carried out by The Harris Ballot for the TurfMutt Basis reveals the simple energy of public parks with 89 p.c of Individuals contemplating a very good public park system a high group amenity. Practically all Individuals (96 p.c), in line with the analysis, make the most of public inexperienced areas, like public parks, for recreation. A overwhelming majority (89 p.c) really feel communities ought to prioritize offering these areas for group well being and well-being.
“Parks are an enormous a part of our lives from bodily actions to connecting with the nice outside. They’re good for a group’s well being and well-being, good for public security and encourage financial improvement,” says Kris Kiser, president & CEO of the TurfMutt Basis, which has advocated for the care and use of inexperienced areas for over 15 years.
The analysis proves that individuals need inexperienced area of their communities—and loads of it. Ballot findings embody:
• 92 p.c of Individuals need extra or higher maintained public inexperienced area, comparable to public parks, college yards, canine parks, sports activities fields, and so forth. of their group.
• 75 p.c would prioritize public inexperienced area when searching for a brand new house.
• 67 p.c could be keen to pay extra to reside in a group with public inexperienced area over one with out it.
• Roughly three quarters of Individuals (74 p.c) discover public inexperienced areas extra worthwhile than different group facilities, comparable to an indoor pool, indoor health middle or indoor recreation middle.
“If a metropolis or group needs to draw folks to their metropolis, investing in a park system is cash properly spent,” says Kiser, including that in underserved communities the place folks don’t have entry to a yard, parks are a much-needed respite from concrete and asphalt.
“Parks even have develop into real environmental property, from pollinator and wildlife help to carbon sinks and mitigating city head islands.”
The TurfMutt Basis’s analysis reveals 96 p.c of Individuals take pleasure in taking part in actions in public inexperienced area but additionally highlights the various methods during which folks use them.
• High public inexperienced area sorts that Individuals need to see extra of/higher maintained of their communities embody parks (56 p.c), operating/strolling trails (55 p.c), and picnicking services (43 p.c).
• Bodily actions, comparable to taking a stroll/run (76 p.c), enjoying/watching a sport (47 p.c), figuring out (36 p.c), or enjoying/watching an out of doors sport (35 p.c) are loved in public inexperienced areas by Individuals.
• Immersing oneself with the outside can be among the many generally loved actions in public inexperienced areas, together with connecting with nature (60 p.c), observing wildlife (51 p.c), and gardening (31 p.c).
• Many Individuals are utilizing public inexperienced areas for socializing actions comparable to having a picnic/eating outside (53 p.c), letting their canine socialize (32 p.c) or bringing their children to play (30 p.c).
Louisville, Kentucky, house to 100 parks and leisure spots, is a rare instance of a group prioritizing park programs. Louisville’s Waterfront Park, house of the TurfMutt Nice Garden was simply named #1 Riverwalk in america within the USA As we speak 2025 Readers’ Alternative awards. Mulligan, the TurfMutt Basis’s spokesdog, calls Louisville house.
“I serve on the Waterfront Park Board of Administrators, and it’s communities like Louisville that prioritize inexperienced area which might be more healthy, happier locations to reside. The TurfMutt analysis proves it’s what Individuals need,” says Kiser.
Take a look at the TurfMutt Basis’s Worldwide Backyarding Reality Guide to be taught extra in regards to the energy of parks and different inexperienced area round us. Join Mutt Mail, a month-to-month e-newsletter with “backyarding” suggestions and all of the information from the TurfMutt Basis right here. Search for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Fortunate Canine tv and Mission Unstoppable reveals on Saturday mornings.
About this analysis: This survey was carried out on-line inside america by The Harris Ballot on behalf of The TurfMutt Basis from April 15-17, 2025 amongst 2,075 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris on-line polls is measured by utilizing a Bayesian credible interval. For this examine, the pattern information is correct to inside +/- 2.5 share factors utilizing a 95 p.c confidence stage. This credible interval might be wider amongst subsets of the surveyed inhabitants of curiosity.
