13—Increase the percentage of New Yorkers living within walking distance of a park to 85%.

13—Increase the percentage of New Yorkers living within walking distance of a park to 85%.

Deadline: 2030

Incomplete Incomplete

In 2019, 81.5% of New Yorkers were within walking distance to a park.

The city is on track to meet its goal through various initiatives:

Parks and other greenspaces are some of the city’s most valuable environmental assets. Preserving these spaces and increasing access to them for all New Yorkers is a top priority for NYLCV. Many of the city’s trees are located in parks, where they help mitigate climate change by storing 1 million tons of carbon each year and playing a vital role in countering urban heat island effect, lowering temperatures by up to nine degrees, which helps cut air conditioning use by 30%. Trees also help provide clean air by removing 1,300 tons of pollutants from the atmosphere and protect our waterways by capturing almost 2 billion gallons of stormwater each year.

Lastly, now more than ever, access to parks and open spaces, especially for residents of a dense metropolitan area like NYC, are important for mental health, including reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Use of local green space has also been associated with other physical health benefits like improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Cherry blossoms in Central Park.
Image credit: Flickr user charleylhasa
Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Image credit: Flickr user dumbonyc

New York City’s parks and open spaces.
Source: NYC Open Data


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