Maryland Park Equity Mapper
The Maryland Park Equity Mapper combines layers of demographic and environmental data in order to determine the park equity of different census tracts, allowing users to visualize disparities in park access and quality across the state. The tool was developed by the Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health (CEEJH) Laboratory at the University of Maryland School of Public Health in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) and University of Maryland Center for Geospatial Information Science (CGIS). This tool can be used by residents and policymakers in order to identify underserved communities that are in need of new park infrastructure and green space.
Studies have shown that spending time in nature is critical to children’s physical, social, and cognitive well-being. MD DNR cites evidence that children in underserved communities that lack access to nature may be more at risk of childhood obesity, attention deficit disorder, and depression. Furthermore, green space provides essential economic, social, and environmental benefits for community members of all ages. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources developed the Park Equity Analysis in partnership with the University of Maryland in order to better pinpoint areas in Maryland where residents face cultural, socioeconomic, and health barriers to green space.
Resource Details
Related resources (by topic)
New Orleans Climate-Smart Cities Decision-Support/Mapping Tool
In collaboration with the Trust for Public Land, the Office of Resilience and Sustainability in New Orleans, Louisiana has completed a publicly accessible Climate-Smart Cities climate risk mapping and planning tool. This decision support tool is designed to guide green…
Northeast [US Climate Reslience Toolkit]
The growing frequency of extreme weather events, such as intense rainstorms, and other climate-driven changes, including warmer ocean temperatures and rapid sea level rise, are shaping mitigation and adaptation efforts in the region, such as coastal wetland restoration and changes…
Northern Great Plains [US Climate Reslience Toolkit]
While adaptation efforts are underway, climate change creates complex tradeoffs and tests the resilience of the region’s residents, especially rural, Indigenous, and low-income immigrant populations. Shifts in energy demand, production, and policy will change land-use needs for energy infrastructure and…
Northwest [US Climate Reslience Toolkit]
Increasing temperatures are leading to declining snowpack, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels. These changes, paired with increasing risks of flooding, wildfires, and other climate hazards, threaten human health, ecosystems, infrastructure, and industries that rely on natural resources. Impacts on…
Help us expand the Resource Hub
Share resources that you think would be a good addition to this tool and our team will review them for inclusion in future updates.